The Shelburne artist and longtime educator experiments with materials and forms to create whimsical works.

By Emily Rodin

SHELBURNE — Behind Joplin Wistar’s indigo-trimmed house is a fantastical backyard filled with unique architectural designs: a hobbit hole made with cedar poles, a lotus belle shaped tent, and a tree web that acts as a giant hammock, just to name a few. 

It is no secret in town that Wistar, 66, embraces whimsy through his imaginative creations. His hand-crafted structures, scattered throughout Shelburne as well as his own backyard, have become distinctive local landmarks that reflect both his artistic vision and the town’s creative spirit. 

“He’s incapable of doing anything the same way twice,” said children’s book author Alison James, Wistar’s wife. “He doesn’t even like to take the same road or the same trail when we’re hiking or something. Just needs to always be discovering something new.” 

Wistar grew up in Pennsylvania and studied human ecology at the College of the Atlantic in Maine. He and James moved to Shelburne 40 years ago. Wistar taught for 30 years at Shelburne Community School, taking yearlong leaves to teach in Japan, Norway and Taiwan. He now runs an alternative school and summer camps in Shelburne.

When Wistar isn’t busy teaching kids, he is most likely creating artistic pieces like the ones found in his backyard. Working with kids helps embrace his outlook of trying new things in his artwork, he said. 

He first started making practical structures like treehouses at Treewild Forest Classroom, a one-day alternative school program that he runs with James. Then those structures became more elaborate. His first art installation was “The North Wind” at Shelburne Farms for Borderlands, an autumn outdoor sound and light theatrical production. 

Most recently, Wistar installed “Zephyr,” a 16-foot-tall wooden sculpture of the Greek God of the West Wind, outside Shelburne Pond Studios in June. Wistar originally built the creature as a set piece for Night Fires, an annual theatrical performance in Middlebury that celebrates the winter solstice. 

Shelburne Pond Studios co-owners Katharine Stockman and her husband, Rad Romeyn, agreed to trade Wistar studio space if he installed “Zephyr” in front of the barn. The installation is the only wooden sculpture on the property; the rest are polished aluminum, marble and other materials.

“It brings a whole new genre to our sculptures at the farm,” Stockman said. 

Wistar recently pitched another set design piece for this year’s Night Fires performance, which is set in Greenland. Wistar imagines a 20-foot web-like structure that would surround the stage and project the Northern Lights on it.

Wistar doesn’t charge for his artwork. He says he creates simply for the joy of making things and solving problems. Working with natural materials presents constant challenges, he said, but that’s what keeps the work interesting.

Although Wistar thrives in experimentation, he routinely returns to one particular material: grapevine. The strong but flexible plant grows up into trees, leaving many property owners frustrated at its persistence. 

“I like to make use of things that other people might not appreciate,” Wistar said. 

The overhead LED strip light that illuminates his living room is attached to a grapevine, adding an earthy ambiance to the room. A bench made out of grapevine can also be found near “Strömkarlen,” a river troll that guards the LaPlatte Crossing footbridge, another one of Wistar’s creations. 

“Strömkarlen” is built out of recycled pallet wood, the same material that sculptor Thomas Danbo uses to make his world-renowned trolls. The Danish artist has installed nearly 200 of his trolls, often in secluded destinations, around the world, sparking conversations of folklore and environmentalism. Another creative that inspires Wistar is Andy Goldsworthy, an English land artist known for his natural sculptures. 

“My work is kind of eclectic. I don’t really specialize in one kind of thing,” Wistar said. 

Wistar’s creativity extends beyond his physical pieces of art. Alongside James, he runs Enchantment Camps during the summer and Treewild Forest Classroom during the school year. Both nature-based programs encourage children to explore the outdoors while developing creativity, confidence and a sense of wonder.

On one July afternoon, 15 magicians, ages 7 through 16, gathered in Wistar’s backyard “dodeca,” a 12-sided hut with several windows, to share their individual creative projects. One camper read aloud two hand-written pages in Spanish.

“Welcome to Enchantment Camps, where being geek is celebrated,” James said.

The last two weeks of July were spent preparing a musical set in ancient Greece. On July 22, Robin Fawcett, a retired Champlain Valley Union High School theater and public speaking teacher, led a workshop. As she greeted Wistar near the back entrance of the house, she immediately commented on his “purple aura.”

In theory, Wistar likes to have one new project each year, even if that means replacing or refurbishing one of his earlier creations. This summer he has been focused on running Enchantment Camps, so his individual projects have taken a backseat. Still, he’s always imagining something new.

Asked how he comes up with his pieces, Wistar responded with his trademark sense of wonder.

“Who knows where ideas come from?” he said.

Emily Rodin is an intern for UVM’s Community News Service through Report for America’s Local News Internship Program.