EVALUATING CANVAS LABYRINTHS
The purpose of this page is to differentiate the labyrinths offered by the four leading sources of canvas labyrinths. This is arranged the same way Consumer Reports configures their ratings, with the "best buy" first, and the others following in descending order. First place goes to Labyrinth Enterprises, LLC. This is no surprise, as they make more hand-made canvas labyrinths than anyone in the world (see History). Second is a tie between Veriditas and Paxworks, although technically, Veriditas does not produce labyrinths. The Labyrinth Company should not even be included, as it does not make hand-crafted labyrinths. They are printed on machines. But since they have a large presence on the Internet, we have included them. Therefore, this rating is quite narrow, as there are only two companies that make canvas labyrinths for a national ausience. Local or regional labyrinth artists have not been rated.
Labyrinth Enterprises, LLC
Back in
1995, Labyrinth Enterprises, LLC (then the St. Louis Labyrinth Project
-- see www.labyrinth-enterprises.com)
was the first production canvas labyrinth facility. By the time others
began sell
ing,
Labyrinth Enterprises, LLC, had already made hundreds of labyrinths. In
all possible categories, including quality of canvas, sewing, drawing,
painting, and facility, Labyrinth Enterprises, LLC, comes out on top.
It currently specializes only in canvas labyrinths, which is 99% of the
market. People still prefer the feel of natural untreated cotton to plastic
and vinyl. (In situations such as healthcare facilities, walkers simply
wear disposable paper booties over their shoes.) The flat latex paint
adheres to natural canvas better than any other material, with two exceptions:
toxic oil-based paints used for vinyl (Paxworks) and ink on polycanvas
(Labyrinth Company). Folding doesn't hurt latex paint. The earliest labyrinths
are now more than 10 years old, and are still going strong. In terms of
sewing (for details, see construction),
Labyrinth Enterprises, LLC, uses a company in business for more than 80
years with huge tables and excellent equipment. When it comes to drawing
and painting, Labyrinth Enterprises, LLC, has a not-so-secret weapon.
Her name is Judy Hopen (photo, standing at painting table). Whereas Paxworks
and the Labyrinth Company are essentially one man shops, the Labyrinth
Enterprises, LLC, studio is a one woman operation. Judy now has over a
decade of experience, having personally been involved in making more than
700 portable labyrinths. She has probably made more full-size labyrinths
than anyone in history. Her knowledge of color choices is also a huge
advantage. The Labyrinth Company prints their labyrinths, so there is
no comparison there. Her drawing and painting ability is unsurpassed,
bar none.
Labyrinth Enterprises, LLC, looked into switching to 144" (12-foot-wide) material for all of its labyrinths. For anyone who loves canvas, it is impressive to see such a wide, uninterrupted expanse. But after purchasing from the two leading sources, they found that the wider canvas had more flaws and was not of the same quality as the 72-inch (six-foot-wide) material. The wide canvas is still available, however, as a custom order. An unobtrusive lapped seam won out over canvas with various blemishes and imperfections. The more standard labyrinths are generally preferred for two reasons. First, the six-foot canvas is of better quality and secondly, the panels are connected with simple lapped seams (meaning only two thicknesses of canvas) rather than the flat or French seams used by the other companies, which are bulkier and also do not lie as flat. (Such seams are meant for sheer fabrics, not bulky canvas.) Lapped seams take special equipment and a great deal of skill. Finally, the production facility really does make a difference. Being able to work in an 8,000 sq. ft. studio, it is possible to paint the entire labyrinth as a single piece, rather than one section at a time (in which case the lines might not meet up exactly). Further, the light is better and the working conditions more spacious and relaxing. Both Paxworks and the Labyrinth Company work out of their homes. Labyrinth Enterprises, LLC, with an office in Robert Ferre's home plus the large studio, has far more overhead and expense in producing its labyrinths, yet charges a competitive price, expecially considering the superior quality. Its prices should be 20% more, but that would create a compatitive disadvantage for those clients looking for the best price. Hands down, in all categories, Labyrinth Enterprises, LLC, offers the best quality and value in a canvas labyrinth.
Veriditas
Veriditas (see www.veriditas.net) does not actually make labyrinths, it purchases them from several different makers including Robert Ferre, Stu Bartholomaus -- a regional builder from Kentucky -- and John Ridder. In 1996 and 1997, Veriditas was the only source on a national scale for labyrinths. As Robert, David, John, and others have presented their wares directly to the public, the sales of Veriditas have diminished. No one is more dedicated to getting labyrinths into the world and seeing them used effectively than Veriditas. Its contribution to the cause of labyrinths is beyond measure. Buying a labyrinth directly from them will support their work. Both Robert Ferre and John Ridder actively contribute to Veriditas in many ways and wish them every success.
Paxworks
Paxworks
(see www.paxworks.com) rather resembles
a casual regional maker that grew bigger. Owner John Ridder draws and
paints in the same church he has used since the beginning. Like Robert
Ferre, John has a mission for labyrinths that goes beyond just the business
aspects or commercial interest. He is involved in larger on-site installation
projects with Robert and Marty Kermeen (exceptional paver labyrinth artist,
see www.labyrinthbuilder.com),
sponsors regional labyrinth events, and promotes labyrinths far and wide
as an active member of the Veriditas facilitator community. Similar to
other regional builders, he has sought a niche by offering specialized
materials and techniques. For example, writing meaningful sayings on the
lines and then painting over them so they are invisibly encased into the
labyrinth. This could be done by any maker, of course (although not for
printed ones). He also offers several types of materials, including a
lighter weight material (10% lighter than canvas duck, but also less stable
and more prone to wrinkling and bunching), poly canvas, and billboard
vinyl (highly washable, but very heavy and constructed as a single piece).
Our consideration here is limited to canvas. John makes a point of using
12-foot-wide canvas. That is understandable when realizing that he does
his own sewing (using professional equipment). It means sewing fewer seams
(which would have to be French seams). 
While Labyrinth Enterprises, LLC, rates higher in this evaluation for canvas labyrinths, Paxworks is an excellent choice for other fabrics. Plus it offers the highest quality wooden finger labyrinths available anywhere. (photo) For their various labyrinth products, see www.labyrinthshop.com.
The Labyrinth Company
The Labyrinth
Company (www.labyrinthcompany.com)
produces all of its portable labyrinths by printing them on a computerized
plotter (photo: typical equipment). As a result, they offer an impressive
selection of sizes and patterns. While any labyrinth maker can make any
pattern in any size, the ensemble looks impressive. The Labyrinth Company
prints labyrinths all the way down to finger labyrinth size. For that
reason, owner David Tolzmann can claim to have made
thousands of labyrinths, although "produced" or "manufactured"
would be a more appropriate word. To counter the aggressive marketing
of the Labyrnth Company, both John Ridder and Robert Ferre emphasize that
their labyrinths are hand-made, the old fashion way, one at a time. Energetically,
some feel that the human element is preferable. Economically, some feel
that a unique and individual work of art is a better value than a print.
There are some nagging ethical issues concerning the Labyrinth Company's
aggressive marketing, in that it has bought the search words "Veriditas"
and "Robert Ferre" so that anyone searching for them on Google
will be met by an ad for the Labyrinth Company. Perhaps that is just "good
business" these days, as another labyrinth person, Neil Harris of
Relax4Life, has done the same thing.
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As disclosed on the opening page, this website is sponsored by Labyrinth Enterprises, LLC, which pays its costs as a public service. In a category of its own, along with the extensive contributions made by Robert Ferre to the labyrinth community (see www.labyrinth-enterprises.com/robert.html), Labyrinth Enterprises, LLC, has no competitors, only colleagues -- international, national, and regional -- to whom it wishes every success. We are all working toward a common purpose: the appreciation of labyrinths and their many benefits.