A WELLINGTON artist, Sally Hebeler, is showing her work as part of Somerset Art Works’ (SAW) Open Studios inspired by a story of how Japan’s famous annual cherry blossom display almost came to an end and was saved by diversity.

It began when Sally read a book by Naoko Abe called ‘Cherry Ingram’ about a 19th century Englishman whose collection of rare cherry varieties were spread across Japan with the help of local ‘cherry guardians’.

A single cloned variety had been sweeping Japan and the trees were in danger of being lost to disease because they were all too similar.

Sally said: “The disappearance of diversity can easily lead down a very dark path indeed, toward loss and disaster.

“We need the vigour, flexibility, and creativity of diversity to help us respond to unknown challenges in the future.

“My prints are a celebration of this.”

Sally has been a printmaker for many years using a process which allows her to connect with untold stories, unmarked losses, and ephemeral lives, overlaying and building up prints with a variety of techniques and materials, like layers of history.

Her art can be found at her home in Immenstadt Drive, Wellington, which is venue 56 of the open studios programme, from 11 am to 5 pm daily, except Wednesday, until September 28, by following the yellow signs from Swains Lane.

SAW is a dynamic charity dedicated to connecting people with creativity and developing visual arts across Somerset.

It collaborates with a wide range of partners to enable ambitious projects, support artistic development, and create inclusive and sustainable opportunities for artists and communities to come together and spark positive change.

SAW alternates each year between Somerset Open Studios focusing on individual artists and their work and spaces, and a SAW festival featuring group exhibitions, collaborative and curated projects, and creative events.