Bev Lacey

WATER may be a scarce commodity in Toowoomba these days, but the creative juices of the Garden City's artists are flowing as strongly as ever.

With fountains and some city garden beds left dry and empty by persistent drought, local artists are reintroducing life and colour through the Avant Garden temporary artworks program.

Toowoomba sculptor Jennifer Wright is one of 13 local artists chosen to exhibit their work for Avant Garden 2008.

Her highly imaginative horticultural creations titled Mutant Diversity are the flowering of her early scientific training combined with the creative flair released by the Diploma of Visual Art she completed at TAFE earlier this year.

“I had 'proper' jobs all my life until I was 60,” Ms Wright said.

“I was a scientist at the CSIRO in the 1960s working on virology, immunology and cancer chemotherapy.

“These works represent the impact on gene mutation of drought, global warming and the environment.

“They show how plants mutate and how resilient nature is.”

Ms Wright created floral sculptures like Mutant Toowoomba Violet, Lavender Chenille Bedspread and the Yak Yak Plant using spray-expanding foam and acrylic paints.

Ms Wright will give a talk about her artwork at the Vera Lacaze fountains in Queens Park at 3pm this Saturday, and at 2pm on Sunday.

Her creations will be on show until October 28.