Flaming Carousel

“The Flaming Carousel” is the long time dream of artist Jessica Marshall, made manifest by a team of ten artists working under designer Dallas Swindle. Portal Arts Collective built six of the ten original rideable art works, and fabricated much of the carousel structure itself. Riders get to choose beautifully built steeds to ride as the ceiling above burns with propane waves. Portal pieces include: “Shelly Jr.” the snail bench and “Portal Throne” the wheelchair accessible seat, by Richard Cawley, “Spring Heel Jack” the jackalope and “Scampi” the mantis shrimp, by Julia Alora, and “Betty” the fish and “Stretch” the ostrich by Josh Daily. Brandon Shaw, another member, built much of the structure and will be making a creature to add to the original ten.

The carousel debuted at Love Burn 2025 in Miami to an incredibly positive response, and after some upgrades will go on to events around the country, including Escape Rave on Halloween, Love Burn 2026, and Burning Man 2026. 

The Carousel Menagerie

“The Carousel Menagerie” was a one summer showcase of creatures made for “The Flaming Carousel”. While the carousel itself was being upgraded, the six rideable art pieces made by Portal Arts members were brought out of storage to delight festival goers in what viewers playfully dubbed a “Merry-Go-Nowhere”. Displayed under a hexagonal shade structure with a central pillar decorated in colorful trash, the menagerie invited adults to connect with their inner child, and children to climb on and “ride” each creature. 

Displayed at Oregon Country Fair and Pickathon, the creatures have now returned to the rest of their flock, and will be displayed on “The Flaming Carousel” at upcoming events around the country.