One man's junk

It all starts with a bunch of junk.

"According to my wife, it's junk," said Daron Roach with a smile, surrounded by pressure tanks, smokers, and giant spools that once held fiber adorning the edge of his property in downtown Clovis. Now art work, it's no longer as their maker intended, but molded into some familiar faces.

Garage sales, auctions, or donations from family members; if you don't want it, Roach will take it. But you most likely won't recognize your item the next time you see it.

As a retired police officer, Roach found himself wandering to rummage sales out of boredom. One day, he had a vision. A pressure tank with a round head reminded him of some famous little yellow dudes.

"I had this idea that, hey, it looks like a minion," he said.

After posting his first creation on Facebook, Roach said he received a lot of positive feedback from community members. Inspired to keep creating, Roach found himself building a fully mechanical miniature Ferris wheel made from materials including a large metal spool and bicycle parts.

"After I put the Ferris wheel out, I made a comment box," Roach said at his shop last week, pulling out a sandwich bag filled with small pieces of paper. "This is why I started doing it."

He pulled out notes written by small children declaring their love for his creations. "If I can make somebody smile, it's worth it," Roach said.

Roach mainly uses his welding skills and paint to create his work. "It gives me peace of mind," he said of his hobby.

Roach hopes to continue developing and adding to his collection, as does Clovis Mayor Mike Morris, who has helped to promote Roach's work.

"When I shared about it on my Facebook page, I received a lot of reaction," the mayor said. "I think as long as he has time and enjoys doing it, he should keep it up. The community loves it."

As for Roach, he is open to suggestions for new sculptures and welcomes community members to drop by his workshop at 604 Hull and enjoy his display. He said to please place your idea into the comment box, and who knows, the next time you drive past, you may see your imagination come to life.