Meeting One of Michael's Idols....

A long, long time ago, Michael was working for Telecom (yep, that's how long ago), whilst he was owner building his dream house in Darlington. Married for the second time, he'd already been through a particularly harrowing divorce and separation from his two older children. The Hills were his sanctuary and he had secured half an acre overlooking a national park.

He'd also started dabbling in metal sculpture. Through his steel fabrication business, he had made quite a reputation for himself designing and making ornate self-opening gates, fire screens and fire grates, original fences, heavy candlesticks, a spider's web the size of a wall and other objects for clients who were looking for a craftsman's hand, rather than just mass produced pieces.

He was devouring art books and working out his style. He knew he loved metal, especially old metal and he wanted to use metal as a catalyst for telling stories about its past. He was passionate about using as much recycled metal as well, hence his first sculpture, "The Mask" was made entirely out of balustrade offcuts. She is still with him, on display in the Gallery.

After securing his position at Telecom, he concentrated on owner building his timber and steel house in the trees. That took up most of his time, but he's been bitten by the sculpture bug. Len Zuks was already an established sculptor and artist and he encouraged and inspired Michael in his infancy as a sculptor, striving to develop his individuality in this art form. Michael continued to create - more gates made in his Dad's garage and his first spiders in the bedroom of the old family home - whilst working and building his Darlington house.  He dared to hope that someday, one day he could establish a career as a metal sculptor.

With the advent of the Internet, it became easier for Michael to follow Len and his work. He hadn't seen Len for thirty years. Through the marvel that is social media, they reestablished contact. And then, last Thursday, Michael's first mentor actually came up to Heavenly Beverley.

Len and his friend John had worked together at UWA. They met Michael at the Gallery and later, arrived at the House that Rocks. John was a giant of a man, an interesting contrast to the shorter, leaner, dapper Len. They explored the metal that Michael had collected over twenty years - in our sheds and yard and the back paddock. Len took a selfie lying amongst all Michael's metal. They had a late breakfast with us and countless cups of tea. They poured over Michael's online photos and listened to the places we'd been and what we'd done.

Eventually, they needed to move on to another appointment in York. Michael and I had both had the best morning with Len and John. Len had encouraged Michael's ability as a sculptor and reignited his passion. And the best? They were both bloody lovely blokes.

I've been pumped ever since their visit. Just because I love Michael and I love his art didn't actually mean that much. But Len's validation of Michael and his metal art  was gold.

We hope to see them again soon. :-)

In the beginning was "The Mask"

Then along came a spider!

"Bicycle Express" is the story of bicycles in the Goldfields

A nonsense, a 3D doodle - "Sketch in steel"

"Gears" - windmill parts from Yalgoo in the transition zone of agriculture and mining. Every living creature needs water to survive.