A concrete* example of SUCCESSIVE APPROXIMATION

/

*See what I did there? No? Read on.

Back in 2015 I decided to get all craftsy in the labyrinth by designing and making concrete stones for the endpoints of the four arms of the labyrinth. You can read an explanation and full account here.

This is what the stones look like:

IMG_5587.jpg

This is the alchemical symbol for Earth, one of the four classical elements, nicely weathered after three and a half years.

But the water endstone was problematic.

IMG_5228.jpg

Ironically, in mixing the concrete I added too much water, and the thing just broke up. (Private message to Sakrete: it would help if you gave suggestions for water/mix ratios when not using an entire bag of your product.)

I left it, thinking I’d come back and do it over later.

IMG_5585.jpeg

Isn’t that sad? This is what the water endstone looked liked after two years. So I made a replacement.

IMG_5623.jpeg

It fell apart immediately.

IMG_5654.jpeg

It rained overnight:

IMG_5674.jpeg

So I put the old one back in place and added the project to my list of Things to Get Done in the Labyrinth.

Last night I hosted a cocktail party in the labyrinth for the artist volunteers at Backstreet Arts, and in preparation for the event I decided to get this particular project done once and for all. I added a very small amount of water to the concrete mix, poured the endstone, waited an hour, impressed the symbol, then waited.

After a day, it looked pretty cromulent, but was still a little soft to the touch. I left it alone.

And after the third day…

IMG_7443.jpg

Finally.