2019

Dimensions: 16 feet tall x 5 feet x 6 feet

Material: Bronze and concrete

Images 1,2,3 and 9 Photo credit Perry Thompson

Commissioned by the City of Calgary as part of the 12 Street Bridge revitalization project, Wolfe and the Sparrows consists of a traditionally rendered monument that appears intact from a distance, but as the viewer moves closer the sculpture transforms into a flock of sparrows scattering into the distance. The concept for Wolfe and the Sparrows resulted from a three-month collaborative process with the citizens of the Inglewood neighborhood in Calgary.

 Wolfe and the Sparrows is modelled after the statue of General James Wolfe, sculpted by John Massey Rhind in 1898. By transforming the look of the original statue with a flock of sparrows – a bird species native to England, Wolfe’s place of birth – Wolfe and the Sparrows offers a new perspective on the ways that traditional monuments reflect and celebrate moments from our history. This work challenges citizens to explore how our ideas of nationhood evolve as we expand our understanding of the past.