Works of art to go up in smoke

Petone Beach will once again be home to multiple burning sculptures during this year’s Petone Winter Carnival.

Fire sculptures organised by the Rotary Club of Hutt City have become an annual attraction at the carnival which takes place on Saturday 14 August.

A mixture of professional artists, students, and community groups will be provided with the same materials at 9am on the day, and tasked with using them to create a combustible structure by 5pm that evening.

At 6pm the sculptures will be set alight in 15 minute intervals. The result is something spectacular with many of the sculptures exceeding three metres in height.

Bob Rowell, chairman of the Rotary Club of Hutt City’s organising committee, is excited about this year’s event.

“We have groups from several of Wellington’s art schools who are keen to show each other up, so I’m sure our sculptures this year will be more impressive than ever,” he says.

People are invited to view the progress of the creations, going from a pile of materials to a unique masterpiece, before going up in smoke and fire as the sun sets on the Petone Foreshore.