Fire sculptures will come to life in LaSalle this fall

by Victoria Rose • Tuesday, September 13th, 2011 at 7:23 pm • Posted in Arts>Events>Family>LaSalle

September 13, 2011 – 7:20 p.m.

Setting up the sculptures on the peninsula for the 2008 burn. Photo by Darren Bonnici, copyright Artcite Inc.

To say this is hot art is an understatement.

Twelve Ontartio artists will enthral the audience and bring their sculptures to life with energy and fire. This is Canada’s only fire sculpting festival and it’s happening in LaSalle on September 24.

Now in its eighth year, the Fahrenheit Festival of Fire Sculpture will showcase skilled fire artists who control and manipulate the fire of their sculptures so that it does not burn like a traditional bonfire. The effect is hypnotic.

Artcite Administrative Coordinator, Christine Burchnall says that the festival is captivating, much like fireworks. She said that it feels a bit primeval to be sitting in the outdoors in the fall and watching things burn, “It’s truly a spectacle…it’s really kind of magical and a lot of fun.”

Sculptures burning in 2008. Pictured: Chesire Cat & Heart Aflame (pre-burn), by Tonya Hart (Toronto). Photo by Darren Bonnici, copyright Artcite Inc.

Artists assemble their sculptures about a week before the event, using natural materials (straw, wood, string) to reduce the environmental impact. On the day of the event the artists work on finishing their sculptures in the park at the Vollmer Complex while the crowd arrives and wanders around. Spectators are separated from the art by a large pond and when it’s time for the burn, the artists gather on a peninsula to being the display with sculptures taking anywhere from 10 minutes to 1 hour to burn. The entire burn will last just over an hour but the festival includes an entire evening of entertainment.

Watching the fire  is part of the entertainment, but watching the artists manipulate the pieces and seeing the kinetic movements of the sculpture (in 2008 a peacock spread it’s tail fan as the artwork burned) is a different kind of experience, and one that changes each time you experience it.

Burchnall is excited about the number of activities that are included at the event. Your $5 admission includes:

• Your entry to the festival
• Fiery Feats of Daring by Detroit’s acclaimed Bacchanal Promotions Circus and Fire Juggling troupe
• Live Music by Lonesome Lefty (and special guests)
• Event music by CJAM 99.1 FM’s DJ “Velvet” Vernon Smith
• Free parking

Organizers recommend that you bring your own lawn chairs, blankets and bug spray. Coolers, glass bottles, and alcohol will not be allowed, but food and drink concessions will be open.

This is a family-friendly with acts that will tailor their show to the crowd. “People really enjoy it,” says Burchnall and she encourages visitors to arrive early since the event’s popularity has been growing steadily and in just one year the event attendance jumped from 200 to 2,000 guests.

In its review of the show, Artcite says “fire sculpture harnesses the beauty of fire as a creative, performative act… the beauty of fire sculpture is not limited to the creation of a beautiful object, but is rather focused on how each unique sculpture burns.

Prepare to be dazzled by glowing art, fire jugglers and more at the 8th Annual Fahrenheit Festival of Fire Sculpture. Advance tickets are available by calling Artcite at (519) 977-6564 or at the door on the evening of the event. Tickets are $5 for adults and $1 for children ages 10 and under.

Andrew from Bacchanal Promotions. Photo by Darren Bonnici, copyright Artcite Inc.

Schedule

• 5:45 p.m. – Doors open
• 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. – Face painting & other activities for the kids, CJAM 99.1 FM DJ “Velvet” Vernon Smith spinning the tunes
• 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. – Strolling “sideshow” acts and fiery feats of daring by Detroit’s Bacchanal Promotions (also featuring members of Detroit’s Doppelgänger Circus Sideshow Troupe)
• 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. – Live music by Lonesome Lefty and friends
• 8:30 p.m. – Big art burn of 10+ specially-commissioned fire sculptures
• 9:30 p.m. – Fiery feats by Bacchanal Promotions (part 2)

The rain date for this event is Sunday, September 25, 2011.

See highlights from the 2008 festival:

About Victoria Rose

Victoria is the Online Content Curator for OurWindsor.ca. She has a Marketing Certificate from St. Clair College of Applied Arts & Technology and has worked extensively in the marketing field, with a heavy focus on networking, website promotions, and agricultural tourism. Victoria was the Marketing & Promotions Chair for the 2009 Special Olympics Provincial Summer Games, and currently volunteers as the Marketing & Promotions Coordinator for the Downtown Windsor Farmers’ Market. For the past several years she has been writing My Local Food Blog, searching for and spotlighting Essex County’s numerous food finds.

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