Lisa Dennis
A Bendigo sculptor whose work immortalises trailblazing women will feature in this year’s Castlemaine State Festival Open Studios series.
Many locals would be familiar with Ruth Lyon’s work, in particular The Cornish Miner sculpture acknowledging the hardships of women on the goldfields, which sits in pride of place in Lyttleton Terrace Bendigo.
Lyon has been an exhibiting artist since the late 1970s and has an extensive CV, which includes public sculpture, painting, drawing and screenwriting, as well as production design and artistic direction for film.
One of her greatest achievements has been the creation of The Goddesses – more than 40 sculptures of Australian women who have been trailblazers in their chosen fields.
The Goddesses have featured in numerous exhibitions across the state including Parliament House, Grand Central Gallery, and Queen Victoria Women’s Centre in Melbourne.
Lyon said it was her aim to place women of note on ‘pedestals’.
“Traditionally it has been men who have appeared in much of the public sculpture dedicated to influential Australians and I wanted to recognise some of the extraordinary women who have made their mark in our history,” she said.
Against the odds, Lyon has managed to keep the collection together and hopes to find a permanent home for it.
Local art lovers can catch a selection of Lyon’s work, moulds and making tools, which provide a glimpse into her creative process, on display at the home of fellow local artist Anne Rittmann during the festival.
You can find the installation at ‘Anne’s Art Space’ at 32 Fenton Avenue, Campbells Creek.
The exhibition will open on Sunday March 26 at 9.30am, with a chance to meet the artist, and run for one week culminating on the following Sunday April 2.
