Wednesday, 18 March 2020

Ernst Fries

Ms McLEISH: The Yarra Valley has lost one of its most acclaimed artists with the death of sculptor Ernst Fries on 3 March. Ernst was a wonderful sculptor working in large-scale with stainless steel, granite, concrete and glass. His sculptures are widely displayed in the Yarra Valley—very prominently displayed. My favourite is his memorial piece for the Black Saturday bushfires, which stands in McKenzie Reserve, Yarra Glen. Ernst’s impressive sculpture collection from his years of creativity can be found at Art at Linden Gate, Yarra Glen, where he lived and worked. He was a beloved member of the community and contributed endlessly to the region and to the promotion of the arts. He remained a dedicated advocate always.