All in a clay’s work

By Lachlan Ellis

He’s been a sculptor for about 50 years, and a local artist is bringing his creations to the Lerderderg Library for the public to view.

Clifford Evans is modest about his sculptures, with bronze, marble, and ceramic designs to feature in his exhibition beginning on Tuesday 16 May.
But the sculptures – some in great realistic detail despite being inspired only by photos – are something to behold.

“I’m hoping to have probably around 16 sculptures exhibited, it depends where I can fit it in. I have all my own plinths, I was in the Victorian Sculptures Association for 10 plus years exhibiting through them. But they’re all the other side of town, I prefer doing exhibitions locally. We really need something locally,” Mr Evans told the Moorabool News.

The exhibition won’t have a theme exactly – the figures depicted are those which simply come to Mr Evans, rather than all being people from a similar walk of life.

Some of the sculptures he plans to exhibit include a bronze statuette of boxer Danny Green, a ceramic bust of The Doors lead singer Jim Morrison, and “a mate whose sculpture took 12 months to make, because he wouldn’t sit still”.

He also hopes to create a bronze piece depicting Bacchus Marsh-born author Peter Carey, but needs a sponsor to get that plan off the ground.

“It’ll be on for a month, it’ll coincide with the Peter Carey Award, and the King’s Birthday weekend with the Art Show. So hopefully there’ll be a bit of crossover with that,” Mr Evans said.

“It’s not something I do full-time, only when I get enthused again. My sculptures are kind of a cross-section of bronzes, marbles, and ceramics. I don’t really sculpt to make money, it’s more about passion and enjoyment.”

Clifford Evans’ sculpture exhibition will run from 16 May to 16 June in the Lerderderg Library’s Moor Art Exhibition Space.