A beloved raven sculpture has emerged as an unlikely symbol of hope and resilience after surviving a devastating wildfire that destroyed over 200 homes at Denare Beach in June. The metal artwork, created by talented artist Rob Jüng, was discovered among the ashes of Brandy Bloxom's destroyed home, providing her family with a powerful sense of renewed hope during their darkest hour.
Bloxom's home was among the numerous properties completely destroyed by the raging wildfire that swept through Denare Beach. In the aftermath of the disaster, a non-profit organization stepped in to help residents search for any lost valuables by carefully sifting through the debris and ashes left behind. The volunteers agreed to spend approximately six hours at Bloxom's property, methodically searching through the destruction.
"They dug and dug and in the last 10 minutes when they were just almost done basically, was when they pulled that out, so it was pretty amazing," Bloxom explained, describing the miraculous moment when the sculpture was discovered. The timing of the find made it even more extraordinary, as it emerged just as the search was about to conclude.
The sculpture holds deep personal meaning for Bloxom, who is an artist herself. She explained that she had a pet raven that frequently visited her property, and her friend Rob Jüng, recognizing this special connection, thought the raven sculpture would make an appropriate and meaningful gift. Bloxom received this thoughtful present in 2020, and now, five years later, it has taken on an entirely new purpose and significance.
"It's kind of like a Phoenix rising from the ashes," Bloxom reflected on the sculpture's survival against all odds. Earlier this week, she returned the fire-damaged artwork to her friend Jüng, who offered to clean it up completely and restore it to its original pristine condition. However, Bloxom made a specific and meaningful request – she insisted that some of the burn marks remain visible on the sculpture.
"It's almost more valuable to me now," she said, recognizing that the fire damage has become part of the sculpture's story and her family's journey through this tragedy. The burn marks serve as a permanent reminder of what they survived and the hope that emerged from devastation.
Rob Jüng, the sculpture's creator, shared his perspective on the remarkable discovery through a heartfelt social media post. He explained that the sculpture was more than just art – it was a piece of a family's home, a symbol of memories and love. "When the Wolf Fire swept through Denare Beach, it seemed all was lost. But against all odds, volunteers racing against time found this lone survivor in the ashes – the only thing left. Imagine the weight of that moment: a symbol of hope, pulled from devastation," he wrote.
Speaking about the emotional impact of seeing his creation survive such destruction, Jüng told reporters that witnessing the raven pulled from the ashes, after everything else was completely destroyed, felt almost like a symbol of hope surviving the fire. "That sculpture has always had meaning for me, and seeing it endure something so devastating really hit me. Moments like that remind me why I create. Sometimes art outlasts the chaos around it," he reflected.
Jüng has carefully restored the raven sculpture with meticulous attention to detail. He cleaned off the ash and melted plastic that had accumulated on it, straightened the arrow component slightly, and neutralized the rust that had formed. He then applied a clear protective coat, which enhanced and deepened the dark, heated tones of the rebar material. Importantly, following Bloxom's wishes, he left some of the burn marks visible, acknowledging that "they're part of her story now."
The restored sculpture will temporarily hang in the im-PERFECT-ions Gallery in Hudson Bay until the Bloxom family's new home is ready to welcome it back. This temporary arrangement ensures the artwork remains safe and can be appreciated by others while serving as a broader symbol of resilience for the community.
"The Raven was one of my early large sculptures, and it's always been special to me. But surviving the Wolf Fire and being the only piece recovered from that home gave it a whole new level of meaning. It's more than a sculpture now; it's a symbol of endurance, memory, and resilience," Jüng emphasized.
Looking toward the future, Bloxom acknowledged that there remains significant uncertainty among the residents of Denare Beach, with many families still not knowing when they will be able to rebuild and return to their homes. However, she expressed one certainty: when her family's home is eventually rebuilt, the raven sculpture will have a special place inside, serving as a permanent reminder of their survival and the hope that can emerge even from the most devastating circumstances.
