February is already here, but that doesn’t mean the holiday spirit needs to die. That’s what Lillian Sizemore believes, at least.
Sizemore is the artist behind “How Lovely Are Thy Branches”, a nearly 100-feet wide exhibit standing on the east coast side of Lake Monona. This tree labyrinth officially opened yesterday and is free for the public to come and enjoy the natural beauty that lies within the walls made entirely of recycled holiday trees.
The labyrinth is open during Olbrich Park’s normal hours only and will stand until the end of February.
I had the pleasure of going down to Olbrich and experiencing the unique art installment this afternoon, and let me tell you — I was instantly blown away by its execution.
As you get out of your car and into the cold lake winds, you are directed to the entrance by bright orange cones sitting on the pavement. Your first steps into the exhibit are guided by tree- walls made of pine and birch that lead you through an overhead sign that reads, “Walk the Labyrinth”.
Once you are beyond the initial corridor, you find yourself in a spherical, open intersection where you choose what to experience first. To the right — an open waiting room with casual hay seating; farther up — a “tree museum” that displays 10 to 20 full-size trees of various different evergreen species; then, straight ahead — the entrance to the main attraction: the labyrinth.
A lone-standing sign awaits you as you head towards the entrance that reads:
“Welcome To The Labyrinth,
One Path In, One Path Out,
The Gift Of The Labyrinth
Is That It Is Easy To Do”.
As you slowly make your way down the long entrance, you get a chance to experience a rush of senses that the exhibit embodies. From the smell of pine needles, to the sound of crunching snow beneath your feet, to the smiling faces that you see as you walk past other visitors, “How Lovely Are Thy Branches” gives the public a chance to enjoy something as simple as walking through tree-made walls in an environment built from the effort of a local artist and community members.
When you make it to the circular-moving part of the labyrinth, all you need to do is follow the walls. No tricks, no dead ends, no maze-esque puzzles — just walkways for people to share the fresh air with others. The beauty behind this is that you only need to go straight and the paths will naturally guide you.
After you complete the labyrinth, you exit through the same path that you entered.
I was joined by several other members of the community during my experience at Olbrich. They seemed to share my fascination and excitement of the exhibit.
For more information on “How Lovely Are Thy Branches”, visit https://www.wortfm.org/how-lovely-are-thy-branches-exhibit-to-open-at-olbrich-park/
