An artist plans to farewell Lockwood with an exhibition of works created in the area over a 16 year creative career.
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Alan Boromeo has been painting and welding sculptures in Lockwood for years but he and his wife recently decided to downsize to a smaller property in Geelong.
The artist is throwing one last exhibition before he leaves town.
Mr Boromeo is known for his quirky, Pro Hart-style inspired work.
“Pro Hart once painted a Rolls-Royce. I couldn’t afford a Rolls-Royce so I bought a dilapidated Mercedes-Benz for $200,” he said.
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Mr Boromeo spent three days scraping moss off the car and months painting an intricately detailed piece recalling memories of a childhood in Bendigo.
“I do a lot of experimenting with concepts, especially when I’m painting but when I’m welding too,” he said.
“While I’m welding I’ll be thinking about how I could make the concept better. Then I’ll finish and go to bed, wake up in the middle of the night and know how to do it.”
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Mr Boromeo said he loved seeing people’s reactions to his work.
“It’s food for thought. Mate, people who come out to the exhibition will say ‘this bloke’s weird’.
“The greatest accolade for me is when people say my work makes them happy.”
Mr Boromeo said the exhibition would raise funds for community radio station Phoenix FM, where he spent three years presenting a show influenced by his idiosyncratic artistic approach.
“A lot of people who listen to radio can’t get out of the house for one reason or another. So I was bringing Australia to them.”
Mr Boromeo said he even conducted live broadcasts from the back of his motorbike, describing his travels around Bendigo and regional Australia.
“A lot of people would ring in and I would always spend time with them, never trying to hurry them off the phone. It was great to have that connection with them.”
The exhibition takes place at Bill’s Shed, 1023 Calder Alternative Highway. It will be open this weekend and the next, as well as by appointment on weekdays.
Phoenix FM will be holding sausage sizzles at Bill’s shed on Sunday 4 September and Sunday 11 September from 11am to 2pm.
Tom O'Callaghan
I grew up in Bendigo and I want to tell your stories.
I grew up in Bendigo and I want to tell your stories.
