Wānaka-based environmental artists Martin Hill and Philippa Jones will open the Wild Dunedin - New Zealand Festival of Nature this International Earth Day, April 22.

In a first for the festival, the two artists will coordinate the creation of a large land art sculpture by members of the public, establishing this year’s theme ‘He wai ka rere ki te moana – Down to the sea’.

Martin and Philippa’s award-winning work - designing, constructing and photographing ephemeral sculptures that explore concepts of circular economy through the circularity of nature - has taken them to some of the most remote corners of the world.

Martin and Philippa have shared the creation of their work in group settings a handful of times before.

“This work is about people getting involved and making connections with nature,” Martin said.

The community-made sculpture at the northern end of St Kilda beach will be documented by drone, sending a message about waste to participants and those watching the livestream.

The participants will be collecting natural items on the beach while the tide is low, and then the incoming tide will take them away, demonstrating nature’s cyclical processes.

“With a focus this year on the sea, we celebrate Earth Day with an exciting event on the beach at Lawyers Head,” festival director Jeannie Hayden said. 

Their work creating 12 mountain sculptures around the world, which is the subject of Martin and Philippa’s book ‘Fine Line’. 

“The artists want their land art to be a reminder that our human economy needs to move closer to nature, where there is no waste in the environment.”

The footage will also form part of Martin and Philippa’s talk at the Otago Museum the following afternoon, during which they will explore their land art practice and experiences creating 12 mountain sculptures around the world, which is the subject of their book ‘Fine Line’. 

The festival features a range of family-friendly events each day from April 22 until April 28. 

Many of the events, including this one, must be pre-booked here.

PHOTOS: Martin and Philippa Jones