“The Wilds of Kingston” by Brandon Vickerd was commissioned by the City for the intersection of Princess and Division Streets as part of the Princess Street Sidewalk Project. This is one of three public art projects in the area as part of The Hub Project, a public art initiative designed to connect neighbourhoods and promote the area as a gateway to downtown Kingston. More information on The Hub Project can be found on the project page.

Project Award

A jury selected the work “The Wilds of Kingston” by Brandon Vickerd as the winning proposal for the Princess Street Sidewalk Project. This process was facilitated by the City in keeping with the Public Art Policy as approved. 

Art type: Permanent
Budget: $125,000
Location: Princess Street at Division

Installation was completed in November 2021. This public artwork is part of the City of Kingston Civic Collection.

Project Launch

A special launch event to unveil the new public artwork with artist Brandon Vickerd and special guests was held on November 26, 2021. City Councillors, Jim Neill (Williamsville) and Rob Hutchison (King's Town) who represent the neighbourhoods connected by the area were in attendance.

About the Artwork

What if the animals we take for granted adapted and learned to emulate us? “The Wilds of Kingston” uses humour to challenge our perceptions of sculpture and how it functions. The playful installation invites reflection on the relationship between people, nature, and the urban environment.

“The Wilds of Kingston” also creates an opportunity to highlight the counterculture history and landmark status of Princess Towers, formerly known as Elrond College, built in the 1960s as an experimental student-run housing cooperative. “The Wilds of Kingston” creates a new landmark in the area and asks people to think differently about what they see every day.

About the Artist

Brandon Vickerd is a Hamilton-based artist and Professor of Sculpture at York University, where he also serves as Chair of the Department of Visual Arts and Art History. His public artworks are exhibited across Canada in Ottawa, Calgary, Waterloo, Hamilton, Thunder Bay and Edmonton. Vickerd’s sculptural work straddles the line between high and low culture and combines craftsmanship with spectacle and humour to provoke a response and to question Western world views, traditions, and ways of thinking.

Artist Selection Process

The commissioning of the Princess Street Sidewalk Project involved a two-stage procurement process including a Request for Supplier Qualifications (RFSQ) and a Request for Proposal (RFP). The RFSQ was released in March 2020 and closed in May 2020 and three shortlisted artists were selected. Due to COVID-19, the project faced delays in spring/summer 2020. The RFP was released to the shortlisted artists in October 2020. An online public engagement session was then held for three weeks in January 2021 where members of the community were invited to review the proposals of the shortlisted artists and provide feedback. The RFP closed in March 2021.

A jury comprised of artists, arts professionals, and representatives from the local businesses in the area where the public artwork was going to be installed, as well as student representation from Queen’s University reviewed all submissions to the RFSQ and RFP.

Project Background

The Hub Project is a multi-phase initiative designed to connect neighbourhoods through artful interventions designed to make the intersection of Princess and Division streets, also known as “The Hub”, more welcoming and friendly for everyone. It also involved public consultation that helped to identify themes and to guide the public art being presented. Read the findings from the consultation in the What We Heard report.

The Hub Project was funded by the Association of Municipalities Ontario (AMO) Main Street Revitalization Initiative that supports investment in public infrastructure to help improve the success of small business, including local tourism on main streets, and by the City of Kingston.