Curated by Jessi Bowman and hosted by FLATS, Transient Vistas “delves into the intangible essence of places that are slipping away, either through human intervention or the relentless march of ‘progress.’ Through a nuanced lens, the exhibition examines the landscapes that bear the weight of history, witnessing the layers of stories embedded in each terrain. This group exhibition prompts reflection on the connections between individuals, their customs, and the environments they inhabit—a delicate ecosystem that can be cherished, obliterated, or simply overlooked.”

The images here document one section of the group exhibition—namely the Well Being(s), a collaborative body work by Margaux Crump & Jake Eshelman exploring the deep ecology of Welsh sacred springs, inclusive of the myriad mythological, microscopic, and other invisible beings who reside in these spaces. The work itself flows from a two-month field research trip and pilgrimage throughout Wales where the artists visited over 60 sacred springs and holy wells, with a particular interest in the myriad mythological, microscopic, and other invisible beings who reside in these spaces.

 

Tree with silk, water, salt, honey, and beeswax

At what are known as rag wells or clootie wells throughout the UK, pilgrims will often tie small strings or ribbons onto venerated trees that grow nearby as part of their sacred rites. This is a more recent practice in Wales, but historically, these offerings would disintegrate or be tidied up periodically by well keepers. Today, rag well trees are increasingly weighed down by lingering synthetic fabrics and a lack of site stewardship—to the point where well-meaning offerings are killing trees.

Images in jars

Natural springs can be mercurial—appearing, shifting, and disappearing without warning. This inherent sense of movement is further enhanced by the human practice of collecting and transporting sacred spring waters away from their source as a way to carry their sacredness with us. There is also a belief that a drop of holy water will imbue any water it touches with the sacred.

This work wonders whether we can also transport the sacred through image. If so, can photographs of sacred spring water also imbue their surroundings with the same sacred energy? Do they provide us with a means to preserve and share access to the sacred?

Salon table

The spirit of Well Beings is rooted in the spirit of place. This table arrangement offers a glimpse into the experience of Welsh wellsprings. The images depict the wellsprings in their surrounding environments, the offerings left by visitors to these sites, the invisible wellspring ecology, as well as reflections on the waters’ surface. The objects recall those commonly offered to sacred springs by visitors in search of water, wisdom, or miraculous healing. As a way to ground these relationships in the place we call home, the table itself is coated in wild clay soil gathered from the banks of a Houston bayou.

Hanging silk photo collage

All of our work with sacred springs was born from a series of recurring dreams of the night sky contained within bodies of water. These dreams first manifested artistically as a simple gesture juxtaposing an image of the microbiology within a single drop of well water with an accompanying image of the night sky directly above the well site. The two images mirrored each other and their visual similarities revealed a kinship between the stars above and the spring water that surfaces from deep below.

The stream of images hanging before you follows this path. It begins underwater with the microorganisms who live inside Welsh wellsprings. These images flow upward into a collage of reflections cast on the waters’ surface. From there, the stream reaches the stars far above the wellsprings.

Floor print

There is a stone well house set into an overgrown hillside in South Wales. Inside, near the water basin is an affirmation carved in stone: “You are standing on holy ground.” However, signs plastering the exterior are even more emphatic, clarifying that this holy well water is contaminated and is therefore unfit for consumption.

The stark contrast is a living embodiment of fading well guardianship. Human behavior has polluted and desecrated this wellspring, as well as many others. And yet, select visitors still lay flowers and toss stone offerings into its waters.

Many thanks to Jessi Bowman of FLATS for championing this work through—and well beyond—this exhibition. We are also grateful to Fresh Arts, who sponsored our exhibition programming. Similarly, the exhibition itself was funded in part by the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance. Lastly, thank you to the sacred springs and holy wells of Wales, our collaborator Dr. Dawn Collins, and all who we met along the way.