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Chuck Hunner

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John Bielik

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David Blonski

OUR ARTISTS

A colleague who heads a highly visible labyrinth company once stated that his goal was to remove the art from labyrinth making. Apparently he was having trouble finding skilled artists capable of doing this kind of exacting work. So he switched over to a completely mechanical production, using computers, stencils, and plotters. At Labyrinth Enterprises, we have taken just the opposite approach. We strive to add as much art as possible to our projects and products. In this regard we are fortunate to have a number of talented artists at the ready.

JUDY HOPEN

Judy is our world-class master painter and production supervisor. She deservedly has a descriptive page of her own. See Judy.

JOHN BIELIK

John holds a BFA and a master's degree in graphic design. An independent artist who teaches and illustrates papermaking and paper marbling, John works on labyrinths between trips and art shows. Besides drawing and painting, he is in charge of assembling our nylon rainbow labyrinths.

John is such a perfectionist that I sometimes have to convince him that a project is finished, rather like an artist knowing when a painting is done. There is nothing more pleasing than entering the studio and seeing Judy and John hard at work. John has been with us longer than anyone except Judy (almost 10 years).

CHUCK HUNNER

Chuck is part of our adjunct staff, on call to help with on-site installations. He has a certificate in concrete studies and helps with the maintenance of all of our tools. A resident of Asheville, NC, Chuck has 30 years' experience as a jeweler. His blogs (diaries) detailing some of our labyrinth installations, and examples of his jewelry, can be seen on his website, www.goldenspirit.com. Chuck is our leading on-site manager.

HWANG "BO" KIM

Soft-spoken and conscientious, Bo got his BFA with an emphasis in oil painting. He has also studied graphic design. He drives 20 miles from his home in a far western suburb to our city studio. Many artists have tried out for Labyrinth Enterprises, LLC, and found that they don't have the skill or perhaps the patience for this kind of work. Bo, on the other hand, from the very first day, has shown the ability to meet our high standards of perfection. If only we had about four more artists like Bo. Here's an example of his work: Marathon.

DAVID BLONSKI

David is one of our on-site specialists and a superb professional musician. A world class didjeridoo player, David often graces us with a morning concert during our pre-work meditation. He has labyrinths on his own property and is involved in a wide range of creative endeavors. You can learn more at www.timelessproductions.com.

CLIFF GOKENBACH

An extraordinary artist who has painted murals in numerous prestigious locations, Cliff offers the possibility to do a labyrinth with added art work. Do you want a Sistine Chapel labyrinth? You can have it -- or any other theme. We intend to expand his repertoire to concrete designs, as well. In addition to the labyrinth, he can also add murals to the adjacent setting, including walls and ceilings. Specializing in faux finishes as well, Cliff is available independently for commissions of all kinds. Click here for examples of Cliff's work.

URIEL STARBUCK

What impresses me is not just that Uriel is a skilled sculptor. It is the personality, imagination, and emotive quality of his work that reflects the depth of his talent. Just the paper models that he makes for his stainless steel sculptures are incredible. Indeed, he teaches classes in how to make models and sculptures from paper and cardboard. When Uriel read that my wife Ruth and I had folded 1,000 oragami cranes, he made a beautiful paper crane sculpture with a wingspan of around 18 inches, which now hangs in our home. Outdoor labyrinths are generally placed in garden settings that are perfect venues for sculptures. What makes a garden a place of healing? It is a place where the weight of the world falls away and one can be in touch with more authentic, interior values and intuition. The literal world and the rational mind are the barriers we aspire to transcend. Walking a labyrinth is one way to do that. Viewing and experiencing art is another. Together they make a powerful combination. Uriel is available for commissions in all settings, including large scale public works. Click here to see examples of Uriel's work.

JOHN RIDDER

It is a bit unusual to put a "competitor" on one's website (John also makes canvas labyrinths), but in this case it is appropriate. John is a meticulous craftsman who is good with tools, logical in his approach to work, and who knows and loves labyrinths. He has worked with us to help install concrete labyrinths in a number of locations. Generally, we enjoy coming into an area and working with regional labyrinth makers and artists to collaborate on a labyrinth. With John, we have taken cooperation a bit further, as on a number of occasions he has traveled to different parts of the country to help us install labyrinths. This is one of the ways that we meet the need for skilled workers, rather than relying on local sub-contractors who have likely never built a labyrinth before. John produces excellent wooden finger labyrinths (the best on the market), which can be seen at his website, www.paxworks.com.

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Uriel Starbuck

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John Ridder

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