2019 Team led by Jake James forging ‘Many Hands‘ sculpture

In 2019 the collaborative sculpture project was designed and directed by Jake James, from Vancouver Island, Canada. The sculpture, “Many Hands” was forged at the Blacksmiths Festival in April over a period of 4 days by three striking teams involving 12 blacksmiths from Australia, Canada and the USA.

The sculpture’s design relates directly to the municipality, incorporating three key elements:

• Leaves – these components form the extremity of the work and reflect the natural environment, as it was, and as it exists today, transformed by human activity.

• Sun – forms a ring around the centre and symbolises a new dawn of hope for all who have arrived in the area.

• Three joined hands – form the core of the sculpture and speak to the diversity of people that have lived and worked together to create the rich cultural landscape that epitomises Footscray.

Participating Blacksmiths: Jake James (Project Leader) – Canada, Will Maguire (Team Leader) - NSW, Pete Mattila (Team Leader) – TAS, Ben Beames (Team Leader) - TAS, Robbie Alderson – VIC, Craig Thorpe – VIC, David Graham – VIC, Elizabeth Belz – USA, Matt Mewburn - NSW,  Matthew Pither – QLD, Michael Clarkson – NSW, Michael Gsell – VIC, Peter Birchall – NSW, Willie Rennison - NSW