Aborigine artist to travel country, Westlake is first stop

By Michael Picarella
Acorn Staff Writer

Mel Welles, 78, of Westlake Village, a retired filmmaker, likes to help talented people and is sponsoring an art exhibition to travel the country featuring Australia’s most acclaimed Aborigine artist, Lionel Phillips.

Dr. Welles has a Ph.D. in psychology, has produced films, directed films and acted as well. He has lived and worked in 28 countries and speaks five languages.

As a actor, Welles has been featured in about 60 motion pictures, including the original "Little Shop of Horrors" with Jack Nicholson, and performed in more than 300 TV films. He’s done hundreds of radio and TV commercials, cartoons and promos.

Welles worked with Roger Corman, who’s well known for giving many filmmakers their start, including Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola and James Cameron. Welles produced and directed "Lady Frankenstein," "Joyride to Nowhere" and directed "Requiem for a Bounty Hunter" to name only a few of his movies.

Welles will sponsor an art show because he enjoys helping others.

"I once had a show for another artist many years ago," Welles said. "I’ve always liked helping people do what they do best and want to do best." Welles wants to give back for the good fortune he’s experienced in life, he said.

Welles met Phillips during a trip to Australia while visiting family. Welles goes to Australia about once a year. He’s even produced several concerts at the Sydney Opera House. In December, a lead singer in one of Welles’ concerts said, "Mel, you’ve got to see this Aboriginal artist’s work."

"I went and I was deeply moved," Welles said. "And I’ve seen a lot of Aborigine art."

Phillips’ art, Welles said, "transcends the usually restrictive quality of conventional Aboriginal design. He takes it into the fine art category."

Phillips has very white skin, Welles added, and he experienced a lot of trouble growing up in a tribe of people with very dark skin. Phillips has used his art as a quest to find his roots. And his work is made up of 27 pieces. Some are very large pictures, about five feet by eight feet in size, according to Welles.

Each painting has a story to it, Welles said. And the story will be displayed with the painting.

"The depictions are the legendary wisdom in Aboriginal symbolism," Welles said. "The Aborigine is sort of married to Earth and nature. They respect it. And that’s what makes this show relevant today in our search for some balance in the environment."

Welles is spending money out of his own pocket to present Phillips’ work in the United States.

"I just felt he needed exposure outside of Australia," Welles said.

All of Phillips’ 27 pieces of art will be on display in the show and all are for sale, Welles said. "But that’s not the purpose of the show," he said. "And if any of the pieces are sold, what would normally be art gallery’s commission will go to the Academy of Children’s Theater Arts, which is one of my favorite charities," Welles said.

"I think this is a unique and rare opportunity for people to see something extraordinary, mysterious and spiritual from the oldest known inhabitants on Earth," Welles said. Aboriginals have occupied the planet for thousands of years, he said.

"For a first look," Welles said, "I thought I’d have a show in my home town and let everybody see what this is about."

Other cities the show will visit—of about eight this year—include Beverly Hills, Las Vegas and New York. But Phillips will only attend the show here in Westlake Village at the Westlake Plaza Hyatt hotel in the Plaza Nueva Room.

Admission is free and is open from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thurs., Sept. 26 and Fri., Sept. 27, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sat., Sept. 28 and Sun., Sept. 29.