Seeing the light

JBS Wetland Guardian

We have returned from three weeks in the USA for an unusual commission: to make and photograph an environmental sculpture in a huge man-made wetland in Dallas, Texas.

 The John Bunker Sands Wetland is a unique private/public partnership for ecological design and education. We were there for a special event - Wings Over the Wetland at which the elite of Dallas Texas came together to participate in a vision for nature, conservation and a sustainable future.

 Our task was to create and deliver an inspirational artwork and visual presentation for the assembled guests at the gala fundraising event and celebration at the Wetland Center.

 During our week long stay, with volunteer helpers, we collected and prepared more than 800 cattail stems from the wetland to create a two metre ephemeral sculpture of a guardian figure.

 We chose the location for the installation to combine the full moon and the sculpture’s reflection in the calm water, using the last warm rays of the sunset to illuminate it and highlight the importance of the fact that at this time of earth’s meta-crisis, we must all become guardians of the earth if we are to prevent ecological and social collapse.