There’s no shortage of imagination or artistic talent in Canada’s first art maze opening on Aug. 30 by BernArt in Maitland, Lunenburg County.
A vision of Bernd and Nicole Krebes of BernArt in Bridgewater, be aMAZEd is a project that has been in the works for five years now. Since 2014, motorists on the 103 Highway travelling between Lunenburg and Bridgewater have been able to watch the transformation of the very crooked, cement block foundation in an empty lot, to a work of art — and that’s just the outside.
Inside is almost one-kilometre of paths where a surprise is waiting around every turn. Mosaics, 3D sculptures, murals and paintings decorate the walls, while free- standing sculptures made from cement and metal works stand throughout.
“We’ve tried to incorporate art, maze and garden so it’s an experience for the whole family,” said Nicole. “It’s not just for the kids. We see it as an outdoor art gallery. A lot of people hate being in an art gallery where there’s a flat wall and one piece of art, and you have to think ‘what did the artist think about?’ Here, everybody can find a piece of what they like.” The maze is also open to different interpretations. “Nothing is set in stone,” added Nicole.
A welder and ceramic installer by trade, Bernd is the artisan of the couple, while Nicole is the organizer. Over the past five years, while creating and building the maze, the couple has been helped by 85 volunteers from around the world including the United Kingdom, South Korea and Australia. “Lots of ideas came from lots of people from all over the world,” said Nicole.
Recruited through the internet, some that helped were artists, while others just wanted to help out and be part of the project. “Eventually they wanted to try their hand at creating something,” said Nicole. Bernd would then show them how to use the materials, which included cement, ceramics, natural stone and various metals. “They never thought they could do it,” said Nicole. “They were thrilled.”
Some of the works “are really, really good,” added Bernd.
Some have taken the skills they learned back home with them and continued making art, such as woven metal wall panels that one person now makes and sells.
Countless hours have gone into making the maze. For the past four years, the couple, with the help of volunteers, have worked from May through to October building the maze. To add to the art maze mix, plants have been incorporated into the numerous scenes and a variety of vines that were planted will eventually cover the netting that forms the walls of the maze. Nicole said they have had several setbacks with the plants. The first year, heavy rainstorms washed them all out, then the frost set them back this year.
For Bernd, the maze is a lifelong dream. “I’ve always wanted to do it, and then finally I said, ‘I’m going to do it.’ It’s an endless project for me. A hobby. I’m going to keep doing it until I can’t do it anymore so hopefully for a long time; it’s never going to end,” he said, as he eyed an empty portion of the lot as a blank canvas.
BernArt be aMAZEd opening weekend hours will be from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., from Aug. 30 to Sept. 3. (Labour Day). The maze will then run each Thursday to Sunday after that, depending on the weather, Nicole said they hope to be open until the end of October. Plans are to reopen Victoria Day holiday weekend next May.
Location of the maze is 1136 Highway 325, Maitland, Lunenburg County. For more information on directions and the maze, visit www.be-amazed.bernart.ca.
