Trisantonis (image by Anne Purkiss, left), is a stone sculpture worked on public access land at RSPB Wiggonholt over one year in 2013/4, as a trial for a new way of working involving the local community as part of the carving process.
Catchment approval has been granted by the Environment Agency for the sculpture to sit next to the River Arun here but the sculpture presently still sits at its carving site at Wiggonholt here.
DO go and see the sculpture, if you are passing Pulborough Brooks. It is next to the access road on the way to the car park, and there is an excellent cafe there, accessible even if you aren’t visiting the RSPB reserve.
You can comment below, or read some of the comments left by those since 2014:
Pulborough Sculpture 
This is a memorable piece of original art and would enhance many landscapes. However, it was created in Pulborough by an artist living locally with input from local people and, in my view, Pulborough would most certainly be enriched by its presence in the village. Otherwise, another local venue would be good.
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Has to be kept. Art will always be subjective but a piece that involved the community in it’s creation alone merits it’s inclusion in the local environment.
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Great addition to the local surroundings – let’s keep it in Pulborough please.
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It’s wonderful – keep it where it is or as others have suggested on the south downs way (not too isolated) so that people walking along the way just come upon it. Not on the skyline but in a hollow and near water.
Andy, Petworth.
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Definitely should stay in Pulborough. Stopped and talked to the artist a couple of times as it evolved, fascinating as he had know idea what shape it would take. It came from here and should remain here in the locality. Lived in Pulborough most of my life!
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Every town associated with the South Downs should have a chalk sculpture eroding back into the landscape. There are several around Petersfield and towards Chichester and they make a distinct statement about the heritage, natural history and cultural investment in the area. Pulborough is lucky to have such a beautiful piece already in situ.
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How about in the small square in front of the former greengrocers’ shop in the centre of Lower Street (and the village)? Guess the possible location has been checked with those finalising the proposed Neighbourhood Plan?
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Public art enriches the lives of all of us. This lovely sculpture should stay in Pulborough.
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“I’d love to see it again and again,” Charlie, aged 5, Pulborough
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A creative artist or indeed any person of exceptional talent and repute surely deserves to be ‘honoured in his own country’ Pulborough people must feel some sense of pride that a person raised and educated locally at neighbourhood schools has achieved eminence in his chosen calling. Jon has created a notable artefact which good fortune has made available to them, a remarkable asset of national importance, which should be embraced with gratitude and enthusiasm.
Geoffrey Lawes, retired Headteacher of the Weald School, formerly of Nutbourne and now of Billingshurst
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I know both the Pulborough area and the reputation of Jon as a sculptor. While now living overseas in New Zealand, I will be visiting Pulborough in 2015 and would love to see his sculpture there when I come. Public sculpture always attracts people to an area so it can only be an asset and a drawcard for Pulborough. It looks so intriguing – please keep it!
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As a local I often visit the area with my children and the Trisantonis has become a landmark for us on entering the RSPB. It feels like it has grown out of the landscape shaped by its surroundings and I think that it would be a wonderful legacy for future generations in the area to enjoy and ponder over.
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Luella H, age 9
I think his sculpture is spectacular and should be seen by the public and it is very interesting and tells a story.
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Why would you want to move the sculpture from its present resting place? It is site specific and local people, especially children, have a stake in it. Whether I like it or not is immaterial. Maybe if it doesn’t command general approval it’s even better: there will be discussion, argument, questions raised. What art is all about….
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Public statuary, even if unremarkable which this piece certainly is not, gives great pleasure, joy to most people, and it is not as if Pullborough has a great deal of this sort of thing already, so, please can we keep it here in a good spot where it can be seen and enjoyed by all.
Case
London
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I now live in Bournemouth but saw the sculpture on a visit to the area.Open air sculpture provides a focal point and a sense of unique place and identity ,which is in this case strengthened by the fact that it came into being through a long process of artistic work and creativity by a reputed artist drawing inspiration from the area in which he chose to create it.and that local people and visitors witnessed its development and so to a lesser degree also participated in its birth.In itself it also suggests the role of man within the landscape. I think it should be kept where it stands now if possible..
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I now live in Glasgow but lived at South Stoke for 12 years and visit Pulborough often…..what a wonderful opportunity to have this unique work of art…don’t let it go, keep it in Pulborough for future generations to enjoy and help keep Pulborough alive.
Daphne
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It must definitely stay in Pulborough, it will brighten up West Sussex, we need more art and more artists, more imagination into the ancient history of Sussex
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I’ve been watching the sculpture emerge over the last year from the original block of stone. I had always imagined that it would stay were it is once completed. It should certainly stay in the area and would be best viewed in a similar position in the landscape.
CJ Brighton
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The other day I went with my grandchildren to the Pulborough RSPB site and we found the Trisantonis sculpture at the entrance. The sculptor was working on it and he was surrounded by a lively group of children and adults all discussing what the piece was: what did it mean? what was it telling us? how did the figures combine and stretch into each other? were they real, or mythical, or religious? The children were clearly fascinated by it and the adults were enjoying the chance to discuss all these different ideas with the children. Most of them loved it – and so did I and my grandchildren! It would be tremendous if Trisantonis could stay in Pulborough. There is nothing like it in the village. It would give the place a positive focus and integrity. Pulborough is a large village, almost a town, but it is sprawling, and there are some very ugly nondescript areas such as the car park area outside Tesco and the local surgery. That could be radically transformed by a sculpture like this. Instead of people rushing about with their heads full of shopping and their ill health issues, they’d have to stop a minute and reflect about the sculpture and its meaning! It would be wonderful if Pulborough took on this brilliant piece of work. I live locally and I think I’d decide to go to Pulborough more often for my shopping, rather than Petworth, if I knew that Trisantonis would be waiting for me there!!
Jenny Simmons, Greenfield, Sutton, nr Pulborough.
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I really love this sculpture and as I don’t know Pulborough well looking at the photos I am drawn to it being put near grass and
water, because it is a source of renewal and contemplation so I hope that it is put on the wetlands so long as you can go and sit near it.
There will hopefully be a bench out of an old tree to sit on.
It feels a great pull for the community . Wonderful
Olivia, London
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As the piece was created at Pulborough RSPB and inspired by the place, then I feel its natural home is there. The way the work was created surely means the place it was made and the people who helped make it are an integral part of the art – and so If it WORKS as a piece of art then the setting and the sculpture are as one, different elements of the whole.
MIke Imms, Slindon
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I feel it is important to have a wonderful sculpture like this in the heart of the Sussex Downs. It is important for Pulborough community to have this beautiful sculpture, as it will bring people into the area. Many artists have lived in this part of the world and I think it is wonderful that the artist has suggested that Pulborough could be a site for his work. It is a rare opportunity.
http://www.theshepherdsreturn.com
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Trisantonis reminds me of a wonderful time in October eleven years ago. I spent days driving along the proposed boundary for a future South Downs National Park, taking photographs for a public inquiry that started in November 2003.
At the time I covered exactly that stretch of road between Pulborough and Storrington, looking north – outside the future National Park, looking south – into the park – exactly where Trisantonis stands now.
I very much hope that it will remain there as a fitting welcome to England’s youngest National Park – a landscape that was and is an inspiration to so many artists.
http://www.purkiss-images.eu/projects/faces-of-the-south-downs/
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My children were involved in the creation of Trisantonis and are the voices you can hear on the BBC Sussex radio interview.
We live in Pulborough and the children would love to see the sculpture remain in the village
EP (7) “I want it to stay in the village because I think it looks strange and interesting and that is what I like about it. I enjoyed working with Jon on it because I am into Minecraft. Maybe one day I will be taller than the sculpture and then I can show it to my children.”
http://thegallivanters.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/i-dont-want-to-live-on-moon.html
You can see some photos of us helping out on here.
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Although I am not sure if I actually like this work I have watched with great interest Trisantonis develop over the past year plus. As a regular visitor to the RSPB at Pulborough I have enjoyed stopping each time to see what ‘I can see’ and I will also be intrigued to see how it weathers/ages. So from a selfish point of you I would like it stay where it is but realise that it may not be the best place for the community. Wherever Trisantonis takes up residence it will add another dimension to the area and be a great asset to the community. It should be enjoyed by as many people as possible
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This sculpture is indeed a part of Pulborough Brooks now, and has been intriguing to see how it has emerged over the past months. Many people have taken part and I imagine will want to come back and see it in its finished form over yesrs to come. One alternative though, and I’m not sure of the parish council’s plans, is the remembrance garden – central location but may not fit the brief , or outside the library – lots of foot fall and over looks the brooks? We must keep it in the area though.
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Imagine growing up with Trisantonis as part of childhood. Imagine stone you are allowed to touch, shapes to discover on your own, forms that change in your understanding as you grow taller and older.
Imagine a space in your mind that will always fit perfectly those early years.
I am not a ‘local’ but have grown to know this piece of work over the months as the artist released the potential of the stone.
Pull together people of Pulborough! You are so fortunate in being given this opportunity to keep something of great integrity and imagination amidst and for your whole community.
AM
Westerham Kent
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I too am a frequent and regular visitor to this area and have watched from the start Trisantonis develop over this last year plus. My feelings are that it should be displayed up at Wiggonholt where it has been ‘born and bred’. It adds another valuable and pleasurable dimension to our area. Whilst there may be other sites where it could be viewed by an even larger number of people I personally would feel a definite sense of loss if it were to be taken away from where it has evolved.
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I have been coming up to the RSPB site at Pulborough regularly and have been watching the sculpture evolve. I think it would be nice if it stays in the area as many, adults and children, have participated in the project.
from SW on the South Coast
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