“FLAMIN’ HELL” Sculpture Project

A bold art project to celebrate the efforts of CFA and RFS volunteer firefighters during Black Summer Fires.

The Committee of Jingellic Hub Inc has gathered up remnants of metal from the ashes of bushfire devastated properties in the Upper Murray and have commissioned acclaimed sculptor, Andrew Whitehead, create one of his amazing found metal sculptures – a dynamic sculptural interpretation of a firefighter engaged in the battle against “Flamin’ Hell”, the 2019/20 Black Summer Fires. The life-size sculpture would celebrate the self-sacrifice, grit and determination of our volunteer firefighters and commemorate their heroism and massive contribution to saving the townships of Walwa and Jingellic in the Upper Murray.

Andrew Whitehead has accepted the commission and you can follow the progress of the sculpture via Andrew’s social media posts which we share to the Jingellic Hub Facebook page. He aims to install the artwork on the Jingellic Showgrounds precinct in December 2021. It will become a feature of the Great River Road sculpture trail linking Albury-Wodonga to the Upper Murray.

In addition, we will also engage local artists to collaborate and create gates in a similar format to the sculpture – found metal objects (remnants and relics) welded together within a frame. These would be incorporated into a project to beautify and upgrade the entrance to the picturesque and culturally significant Jingellic Showgrounds.
During the emergency, the Jingellic Showgrounds became a focus for support of our cross-border community, providing a relief centre, hosting BlazeAid and was a staging point for emergency services. The installation of a significant public artwork dedicated to volunteers at this site is very fitting.

We are endlessly grateful to the following donors and funding opportunities, without which this project would have not been possible:
Donors: Ivan and Robyn Hobbs, Alison Copland, Wok and Jen Vinge, Mary and Peter Hoodless, Gaill and Norman Hart, Ian and Paula Millar, Robert and Janice Newnham.
Organisations/ Funding Bodies: Jingellic RFS, Border Trust, Towong Shire Council, Regional Arts Fund NSW.

The current entrance to Jingellic Showgrounds. We propose to install a stunning rock entrance built from rocks eroded from the fire-damaged flanks of Mt Burrowa with artistic metal relief-style gates.

The initial concept for the Eastern section of the proposed entrance with the Sculpture: Flamin’ Hell, front and centre! The sculpture celebrates the dedication and courage of local volunteer firefighters, CFA and RFS.

The working plan for the Eastern section of the proposed entrance, the western aspect will be mirror image. The sculpture and interpretive signage will stand in front of the wall sections, either side of the gate.

Andrew Whitehead’s sculpture is now complete: Joe the Firie, the subject of Flamin’ Hell.

Andrew Whitehead and “Joe” rising from the flames! (Credit: The Age Newspaper.)