This walkable, ephemeral art experience is known as Circles in the Sand. It wrapped up its ninth summer season on Saturday, Aug. 5.
On a recent morning, volunteers prepared the beach for the final walk by running rakes through pristine sand on the beach at Face Rock State Scenic Viewpoint. This darkens the sand and highlights the path, which loops and swirls across the beach. A 鈥渄etail artist鈥� laid out white stones and carved shapes into the sand, images that looked almost like sunbursts. These intricate drawings are created for visitors to admire as they walk by.
Over the course of the morning, the beach transformed into a winding labyrinth. People from all over gathered on the sand, and Southern Oregon locals returned for an opportunity to meditate, to honor loved ones and to celebrate what has at this point become a coastal tradition.
Before the walk began, Denny Dyke, creator of Circles in the Sand, greeted visitors at the entrance to the labyrinth with a welcome speech and a thank you to the volunteers who raked around the path.
鈥淢y team and I, we just love what we do,鈥� Dyke said. 鈥淎nd I think that is shown in our art, and everything else.鈥�
Dyke, a generous hugger and a charismatic leader, has enjoyed the art of the labyrinth for a long time. He said creating these works of art is a kind of meditation for him that he loves to share with others.
鈥淥h, what an honor,鈥� Dyke said. 鈥淲hat more can you do for somebody?鈥�
The labyrinth is expansive. The path leads participants through spirals, squiggles, and loops that meander the beach, allowing visitors time to admire the shoreline, the massive sea stacks and the birds flying overhead. It takes about twenty minutes to walk in its entirety.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a single entrance, single exit, and you don鈥檛 have to worry about getting lost,鈥� said Bethe Patrick, administrative director and detail artist for Circles in the Sand. 鈥淎nd that allows you to just let go, relax, meditate or just enjoy the scenery here at the ocean.鈥�
At the entrance to the labyrinth, the words 鈥渓eave behind what is not needed鈥� are written in the sand. Circles in the Sand team members offer visitors a selection of colorful 鈥渄ream stones鈥� to choose from, hold and keep. Dream stones are a gift that every visitor gets in order to remember their walk.
Outside of the labyrinth is what鈥檚 called a dedication circle. About thirty feet in diameter, this circle is simple in comparison to the nearby walkable artwork, but it鈥檚 a space where visitors are free to draw, write and create their own artwork in the sand. They can write their name, or a loved one鈥檚 name, and dedicate their walk to them. Visible inside the circle are phrases like 鈥淔or Emily,鈥� 鈥淗appy B-Day Dad鈥� and 鈥淚 love you!鈥�
Nancy Borglund and Jim Bell, who attended the Aug. 4 walk together, wrote a dedication inside the circle to Bell鈥檚 sister who passed away recently. Borglund said the walk is a nice way to reflect on the people in her life who have passed on.
鈥淓verybody鈥檚 in the same frame of mind,鈥� Bell said. 鈥淛ust walking, everybody鈥檚 quiet, pretty much.鈥�
鈥淰ery peaceful,鈥� Borglund added.
Circles in the Sand takes place intermittently throughout the late spring and summer, depending on the tides. The labyrinth is scheduled to be in place for about two hours for the walk, but the tide will ultimately determine when it ends by washing the artwork out to sea.
According to Patrick, nothing is drawn out in advance; the team comes out to the beach and creates their design based on what the sand looks like that day. But themes for each day, such as ocean or zen, determine what kinds of detail artwork Patrick will do.
鈥淚 love doing this,鈥� Patrick said. 鈥淛ust to listen to the surf and draw some art and just make this cool thing. And we get to meet all of these people.鈥�
Though the summer season has come to a close, Circles in the Sand will return for its annual sunset walk through the labyrinth on October 14 in Florence, Oregon.
