Professor and sculptor Brandon Vickerd from York University’s School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design (AMPD) has turned heads in Boston’s financial district with his latest public art installation, which depicts a full-scale replica of the 1962 Canadian satellite Alouette as if it crash-landed into a parked sedan.
The installation was featured as part of Winteractive, an outdoor art exhibit aimed at revitalizing downtown Boston during the quieter winter months, and garnered significant press attention for its concept and dramatic visual impact.
The piece plays on themes of destruction, human intervention and the intersection of space exploration with everyday life.
The installation in Boston is the latest in Vickerd's Alouette series, which began in 2018 and has been exhibited in several locations across Canada and the United States, including Quebec City, Ottawa and Lewiston, New York among others.
“The installation Alouette, and my public art practice in general, is an attempt to craft experiences for viewers that encourage critical thinking through the use of humour and craftsmanship,” says Vickerd.
Vickerd pursues a similar approach in the classroom, where he challenges students to think critically about sculpture and public art. “As an educator, I endeavour to stress the role of art in engaging the public in complex conversations, addressing public space, technology and spectacle,” he explains. “When engaging with students, I stress that the role of the artist is to encourage society to ask questions and challenge assumptions.”
Vickerd also encourages students to push boundaries in their work.
“We experience the world in an increasingly isolated fashion. I introduce students to the idea that art can create moments of connection, of shared experiences that build community. I ask students to consider the role of art beyond the confines of the gallery, and commercial exchange.”
Vickerd's impact on students, as well as the impact of his latest work in Boston, is what makes him a point of pride for AMPD, notes the School's Dean Sara Bay-Cheng. “This piece not only highlights Vickerd’s well-deserved reputation as a leading figure in contemporary sculpture, but also exemplifies the global – and even interstellar – reach of AMPD’s impact on the arts," she says.