A teacher and sculptor by trade, Evan applied both skillsets to sharing the story of Len Lye, and creating and recreating Lye’s works. Few others globally had Evan’s encyclopedic knowledge of Lye’s engineering aspirations, and fewer again were able to transfer these to the unique qualities of Lye's kinetic sculptures.
Evan began his career teaching in Taranaki, at Waitara Central School then Highlands Intermediate, before moving to Ohura District High School in the mid-1970s. He would return to the region in the 1990s to advise WITT – then Taranaki Polytechnic – on the establishment of their fine arts course. And as Len Lye’s connection to Aotearoa was rekindled through his relationship with the Govett-Brewster, Evan would return often to New Plymouth to collaborate.
More recently Evan could often be found researching in the Len Lye Centre’s archive, or in the gallery between exhibitions, fine-tuning a work before public viewing. When Evan was afforded the opportunity to talk about these works, and his stories were personal, deeply insightful, engaging, and always generous.
Evan’s immense contribution to the knowledge, understanding and enjoyment of Len’s work will leave a lasting legacy. New Zealand art and indeed the national story is larger and richer as a result of Evan’s contribution.