Walking the dog Theater to Create Labyrinth for Philmont Village Park

Posted July 28, 2009

Dinner to benefit project August 11, 6:00 pm at Local 111 in Philmont
Labyrinth Dedication Fest August 15 at 2 pm

Walking the dog Theater's artistic directors David Anderson and Benedicta Bertau, together with Philmont stone mason Tim Smith and Linda Gatter of Local 111 Restaurant have been laying the foundation for the creation of a labyrinth structure in the Philmont Village Park on Maple Avenue. Fourteen years after graduating from Emerson College in Great Britain, Walking the dog Theater's artistic directors will be hosting a reunion of alumni from 11 countries and 5 continents in August 2009. The central project of the reunion is to create a gift for the hosting community: a Labyrinth. The Labyrinth, a maze-like structure that invites walking along its curved paths, appreciation of the landscape around it, meditation, and activities for all ages in all seasons, has the potential to become an attraction for inhabitants of Philmont as well as for visitors from far and wide. During the building of the Labyrinth, volunteers will clean and consolidate the marble floor of the historic Tea House at Harder Mansion (now The Hearth), which was recently vandalized. Young people smashed the marble tiling. Sentenced by the judge, the three young people were awaiting the community service project. Under guidance of stone mason Tim Smith of Philmont, Walking the dog Theater will integrate these young people into the international work crew. Other members of the community are also invited to lend a hand August 12 - 15. The Labyrinth, based on the medieval Chartres Labyrinth design, will be placed south of the Tea House, measuring 42’ in diameter, and be flush with the ground. The Labyrinth "walls" will be made of Blue Stone, the paths will be grass. The center of the structure or "Rose" will consist of a mosaic created from the Tea House floor marble scraps, and of stones brought by reunion participants. All labor and materials for the Labyrinth will be donated to the village of Philmont. Walking the dog Theater has already been given material for the project, and is inviting local businesses and private citizens to support the project with material and financial donations. Linda Gatter of Local 111 will be hosting a fundraiser at the restaurant on August 11, at 6:00pm (buffet dinner for $15, includes slide show on cathedral building). The Labyrinth will be constructed August 11 - 15. The community project will culminate in a Labyrinth Dedication Fest on Saturday, August 15, at 2:00 pm. Walking the Dog Theater, Inc. is a professional 501 (c) (3) theater company based in Columbia County, NY. Walking the dog Theater creates theater events that inspire, entertain, and build community year-round; professional productions in exciting venues, theater and clown programs for all ages and abilities. Walking the dog Theater's 2009 Season is made possible, in part by a grant from the Fund for Columbia County at the Berkshire Taconic Foundation. The 2009 season is also made possible with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a State Agency. www.wtdtheater.org

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