North Easton, MA - Gun violence in the stones

Many of the labyrinths I’ve found have an association with peace. There may be a nearby peace pole, or messages about it, or other signs of community togetherness. It is not uncommon at all to find that sentiment at a labyrinth. And those at churches are often in the forefront of calling for unity, peace, or goodwill. But what I found at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in North Easton, Mass. was a bit different. I arrived soon after a public art installation highlighting this country’s epidemic of gun violence. The art project involved placing more than 500 small stones around the labyrinth blocks, with each one painted with the date and location of a mass shooting in 2023. By the time I walked the labyrinth, the stones had mainly been removed but a few with messages of peace or kindness remained. And an accompanying kiosk provided information about the project. I wish my visit had coincided with the actual installation, which you can view and watch here. But the result was still powerful, to envision hundreds of stones for all those shooting. The labyrinth itself is a small, circular pattern with larger stones around crushed ones, and it was well-maintained. It sits in the grass east of the church right off the main street and is easily accessible. The labyrinth, installed in 2016, is formally called the Warren Nylen Memorial Labyrinth. I couldn’t find any additional information about who he was or his connection, but I’m assuming that he was a devoted church member who is being appropriately remembered by this special outdoor place.