Jill Chism, Artist

Jill Chism: Artist
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Reflections from the Pool of Peace

On site at the Pool of Peace Stanwell Tops, NSW 2003, now renamed 'Tumbling Waters'. The work was reconfigured at Wollongong City Gallery, Ipswich Regional Gallery and at the Tanks Art Centre in Cairns.
An Installation of wooden tiles, twigs, aluminium, and wooden boxes

A self-reflective work about my own love story, this work layers the present with the past as it investigates the history of the site. An aboriginal story outlines another love story of a woman and man of neighbouring tribes who fell in love, were killed and thrown into the pool, where their blood flows forever down the escarpment to Stanwell park. (The water is stained red from local pigment). Other stories of Henry Halloran, a developer who first sub-divided the land in the early 30's stimulated the use of the grid as a structural component in the artwork and installation to reflect on the differences in approach to land between indigenous people and colonisers. Once a meditation site, the land pool and buildings, perched on the top of the escarpment, form an exclusive resort.

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  • 1994 Pool of Peace, Stanwell tops NSW, suspended grid of twigs and ground aluminium strips 7 m x 7 m<br /><br />The Pool of Peace is a known sacred site for indigenous people involving the Rainbow Serpent.<br /><br />The grid formation reflects the imposition of boundaries on the landscape from colonial time. It provides a contrast to mythological approaches to landscape by early indigenous people. width:800;;height:490
  • Installed on the ground at the site width:704;;height:556
  • 1995, Reflections from the Pool of Peace suspended tiles and water at Tanks Art Centre Cairns. Photo transfer and mixed media on sandblasted ply. 3m x 3m tiles<br /><br />The grid continued into the suspended tiles, which along with water in boxes was exhibited in other galleries and sites in Queensland. The overall photograph is of the Pool of Peace with embedded historical images.<br /><br />Element in the work and the meaning of the work altered with each venue as the site imposed itself on the work. width:514;;height:800
  • Showing detail of the installation over water.<br /><br />The grid symbolises colonial division of land. The pool, which was considered to be a sacred site had become a swimming pool complete with bricked shower enclosures. width:534;;height:800
  • Showing visitors to the site. width:488;;height:800
  • 1994/5 Boxes from Reflections from the Pool of Peace. <br /><br />Showing detail from the installation on site, where boxes inscribed with images and text and filled with water, revealed a layered history of the site. The boxes were arranged in the grounds, so that viewers would peer into the water at their image while reflecting back.<br /><br />I have used boxes in earlier work. Boxes hide their contents. We have to open them and we are often surprised by what we discover. width:680;;height:551
  • The grid symbolises colonial division of land. The pool, which was considered to be a sacred site had become a swimming pool complete with bricked shower enclosures. width:722;;height:487
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