Garden Maze Attracts Visitors to Village of the Arts

The mother of invention inspired Todd Fisher to undertake a project designed to bring people to the Village of the Art and keep them there.

Fisher moved to Florida from Ohio in 1989 and quickly fell in love with the area. He lived in Sarasota for years while buying property in the Village of the Arts and eventually moving to the Village where he owns several homes and an art gallery.

Fisher opened the South Village Gallery this past October and to his dismay visitors just trickled in. As he analyzed traffic to the area, he found that most visitors to the Village of the Arts parked their cars in the main section of the Village, visited a few  different galleries, then headed home. He realized he had to make the south end of the village a destination, a place people wanted to come and visit.

That's when invention kicked in. He wondered, "What can I do that is a little different?" And then decided to build something that would attract visitors  a sort of field of dreams for the Village. Instead of a ball field, Fisher decided to construct a large walking garden maze in the backyard of his gallery at 1010 16th Ave W. He has finished nearly all of the construction and is down to decorating and painting now.

"The Garden Maze is still evolving, there is more stuff that I want to put in it," he said. "Victor Garcia, who does abstract aluminum sculpture, is working on some pieces to display in the dead ends of the maze.  I want to paint the stucco panels. It is a work in progress."

The maze, which is officially open to the public, offers twists and turns that will keep visitors entertained and even a little mixed up at times, crossing through a covered bridge, across a pond and in seemingly endless circles. There are even some secret doors and gates that can alter the configuration of the maze to change the level of difficulty.

Six months went into planning and construction, with a lot of time spent taking into account the locations of the existing tree's in the yard and trying to work everything together.

"We went to Lowe's and Home Depot three times, loading 20 panels and who knows how many posts," Fisher said. "I tried to work with what was here, it was a challenge in spots, especially around the oak trees, but it has worked out."

Fisher's back yard also features a Koi pond and an elevated rooftop deck that overlooks the entire yard allowing visitors to see the full extent of the maze.

Fisher is already thinking about creating a haunted maze for Halloween this year. Also in the works are some art classes for students. Fisher hopes that the new galleries and restaurants opening in the south end of the village will bring more attention to the area.

Anita Giuliano visited the village for the first time recently, bringing her grandchildren specifically to see the garden maze. After completing the maze herself, she sat on top of the deck watching them find their way around and enjoying the nice spring breeze.

"The maze was very well made for both children and adults, we had a lot of fun and will definitely come back again," Giuliano said. "It was a great time."

Visit to the maze shouldn't wear high heeled shoes. Supervision of children is required.

Gallery hours are Friday's and Saturday's from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. and during Friday night Artwalks, on the first Friday of each month from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The next Friday Night Artwalk is scheduled for May 4th.

Reach Fisher by phone at (941) 747-6915.