Channels
14-16 August 2026
THIRD SHIFT is a contemporary art festival presented by Third Space, a not-for-profit artist-run centre in Saint John, New Brunswick, that
includes temporary installations, interventions, performances,
projections, and events.
Created as a platform for new experiences and communal exchange, THIRD SHIFT aims to offer Saint John citizens and visitors to the city a unique opportunity to engage with contemporary art and re-imagine urban space.
Wanderer’s Way
I see channels not just as physical pathways but as metaphorical routes for inner movement and transformation. Labyrinths have long been used across cultures as spiritual tools that guide people inward toward reflection, clarity, and personal insight, and then back out into the world renewed. Walking the labyrinth becomes a living channel – a single, intentional path that carries visitors from everyday thought into a meditative state and back again with a deeper sense of self and awareness.
I proposed to create an interactive, walkable labyrinth on the festival lawn, inviting visitors to slow down, reflect, and experience movement in a new way. Across many cultures, labyrinths have symbolized contemplation and quiet transformation. By following a single winding path, participants gently shift from their usual rhythm into a more mindful state, creating space to clear the mind and reconnect with themselves.
The installation consisted of two parts.
The first is a large-scale walking labyrinth approximately 8 meters long and 6 meters wide. The pathway was constructed from white nylon or polyester fabric sleeves filled with sections of pool noodles, forming soft, raised lines on the grass. These segments were securely connected and anchored with metal stakes placed every 30–50 cm to ensure stability and safety. Battery-powered string lights run along the path, making the labyrinth visible at dusk and creating a welcoming atmosphere in the evening.
The second component offered a tactile, intimate experience. I created 8–10 small fabric “fidget” labyrinths displayed on a table. Visitors traced the paths with their fingers, moving a bead or button from entrance to center and back. Three levels of complexity accommodated both children and adults. Made from cotton, fleece, and nylon, these small labyrinths featured varied textures, encouraging touch, focus, and calm engagement.
Together, the large and small labyrinths invited visitors to experience art physically, mentally, and emotionally.
