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| L. Phil Nizette and R. Jennifer Jones |
Canberra Critics Circle in Conversation with Wellspring
Environmental Arts and Design - 30 July, report by Simone Penkethman.
JENNIFER Jones and
Phil Nizette joined the Canberra Critic's Circle in conversation on 30 July
2018.
Jennifer and Phil have worked together, making placed-based public
and community art, since the early 1990s.
Their business, Wellspring Environmental Arts and Design, draws on
their combined expertise in ceramics, sculpture and landscape architecture.
They work locally in Canberra, nationally and internationally. There is a
strong social ethos running through their art and their business; they say that
their work is all about wellbeing and how the arts can improve quality of life. Being a business from which they both make a
living means that they are always
hunting work; but when they do secure a tender or contract, they make the
project fit within the Wellspring philosophy.
Wellspring works with communities and places. Whether in a dementia
ward, the outback or Southeast Asia, Phil and Jennifer say they feel a responsibility to foster creativity in
everyone.
Gubur Dhaura Heritage
Reserve in Franklin ACT is one example of their local work. The reserve is on a
partial hill which is ancient ocre collection site. Jennifer and Phil worked
with local Ngunnalwal people in the design and installation of sculptural entry
walls, 'Ground Maps', pedestrian barriers made from re-purposed farm equipment
from the site. Seating and interpretive nodes occur throughout the reserve,
relating aspects of its Aboriginal and rural past. They also used clay from the
site to make bricks and engaged local Ngunnawal people to make decorative
ceramic tiles for the work. It was interesting to hear Phil muse that sometimes
local residents visit the place and don't necessarily recognise it as art.
There is an inclusiveness and lack of ego about the art of Wellspring.
Phil and Jennifer often work in temporary of ephemeral art
installations. Discussing their experiences in this space, brings new energy to
their conversation. Jennifer said that there is pleasure, fun and freedom to be
had in creating temporary works because they don't have to be durable and
relevant for decades. They recently completed a six week installation of three
temporary spaces in Canberra's city centre.
In both their temporary and permanent work, Phil and
Jennifer make use of recycled and repurposed materials. Whether the work is
temporary or permanent, Phil is always looking to find ways that artists can
work with larger teams to shape public spaces.
He says that artists need to be working with the planners and designers
of buildings, towns and cities.
