From the mind of Wycheproof local Jimmy Johnson, this self proclaimed Yoyo-ologist is an artist with his own unique bent and style.
@kieran.wicks #question from @kieran.wicks #onetownatatime #Wycheproof #Yoyoologist #Art #Sculpture #abstractart #Neverheardofit #TourGuide #TouringMusician #Victoria #Destination #traveldiaries #Traveltok #Artform #Welding #WeldingArt #SacredGeometry ♬ original sound - Kieran.Wicks
Fashioned from scrap metal, giant nuts and bolts and colored marble balls, jimmy welds his one of a kind metal sculptures and displays them in his open air gallery on the main street of the quaint north western Victorian town.
The Artist and His Art
Jimmy Johnson, a retiree who has called Wycheproof home for nearly a decade, is not your typical artist. He didn’t go to art school and gets upset about being called a sculptor. Instead, he prefers to think of himself as a "retired somebody who loves making things".
His materials of choice? Scrap metal, giant nuts and bolts, and colored marble balls. From these seemingly mundane objects, Jimmy creates stunning works of art. His collection includes everything from pennies to complete engine blocks and differential banjo housings from mining equipment.
A Fascination for Spheres
Of all the pieces in his yard, the round ones stand out. “I love making spherical objects, I have a fascination for them,” Jimmy says. These big heavy rusted spherical objects with their celestial-like qualities loom out of the cluttered yard with their curved geometry.
A True Artist
Jimmy’s approach to his art is refreshingly honest. He once received a bucket of horseshoes from a woman who asked if he could make something with them. Despite trying different arrangements, he just couldn’t get excited about it. "I can’t make something that I am not happy about. I just don’t like horseshoes. Nothing in the world will make me want to weld horseshoes,” he admits.
- “The Yoyo-ologist of Whycheproof: Jimmy Johnson’s Metal Marvels.” Whycheproof Times.
- “Jimmy Johnson: The Retiree Turning Scrap Metal into Art.” ABC News.
- Jimmy Johnson's superb metal creations - Yo-Yos Playland, Wycheproof Traveller Reviews - Tripadvisor
For a laugh here's another traveler's thoughts upon Jimmy's artworks.
Warning this bloke has a way with words... Straya!!!
WARNING - SPICY LANGUAGE
