JACKSON, Wyo. — Jackson Hole artist Wendell Locke Field’s most recent community art installations at the Mountain Academy and Teton County Library reflect his life’s philosophy of being present and authentic in nature.
For the two current installations, Field draws heavily from his travels to infuse his concepts with authenticity and a recognition of being present in this mountain town.
His pARTners project mural at the Mountain Academy, on which he collaborated with teacher Heidi Kohler and students of all ages, was inspired by a schoolyard wall with handprints he saw in Haiti and a traditional Tibetan flag covered with eyes. From that imagery, he expressed the concept of sustainability and what it means to do the right thing.
The larger handprints featured in the mural symbolize ancestors who came before or those who will come after the students. The smaller handprints represent the students in the present. The flowing water connects each students’ designated zone where they worked on their water/wave together.
“I want it to invoke how do you live?” Field says of how he imagines the mural resonates. “How do you think? Do you act with integrity?”
Field lives in a yurt outside of Kelly where he can hear wolves howling and see deer surrounding his home. His appreciation for slowing down and witnessing everything the Jackson Hole landscape has to offer is an important part of creating and observing his paintings.
“I try to live a life that’s inspiring,” Field says about combining cultural exploration and meditation in nature.
Field’s other installation will be displayed at the Teton County Library as part of their “Mountain Stories” series for another week. Learn more about Field’s artwork by emailing wendell.field@gmail.com or clicking here.
