Back to the Watershed

We are moving into autumn here in Wanaka - perfect conditions for work on the next stage of the Watershed project. On Easter Friday we helicoptered up to Whare Kea Chalet to embark on the second part of the Kenneth Myer Artist and Writers Alpine Retreat.

Since we began the project Philippa and I have created more than 20 works about the relationship between human systems and the water cycle. These works and others still to be produced will become an exhibition to be shown in Australia and in New Zealand.

Making this body of work has become a significant event for us and I am hopeful that it will be seen by as many people as possible. Working in our local mountain landscapes gives us a tremendous sense of belonging and we hope this comes through in the work we make.

It is six months since we left Albert Burn Saddle in deep snow conditions. Now the snow will be gone. There will be tussock, snowgrass and bare rock to walk over, but Mt Aspiring will be cloaked in snow and glacier. In the summer months we have been busy making works at lower altitudes in the valleys about the water system. Our town Wanaka experienced flooding and there was much track damage with riverbanks undermined and land slides that took full size beech trees downstream.

This was followed by drought, damaging farm crops. Is this what we can expect from now on?

We will be posting reports on our progress on the project over the next two weeks. We hope you enjoy the process as much as we will.

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