“A crane? In the middle of campus?” That’s what many people thought when they first heard about the creation of the Sticky Wicket sculpture. But this wasn’t just any sculpture. Sticky Wicket is a monumental work by the renowned artist Mark di Suvero. It stands as a testament to creativity boldness and a touch of improvisation.
The Sticky Wicket sculpture came to life during the 10th International Sculpture Conference at York University in 1978. This wasn’t just any art conference. It brought together top critics art historians and artists from around the globe. Di Suvero who is known for his large-scale works using industrial materials saw a chance to create something truly unique on York University’s campus.
The sculpture itself is a striking composition of welded and painted steel. It features massive beams and cables creating a visually stunning balance of tension and precariousness. Originally there was a swing attached to one of the beams. This encouraged interaction inviting viewers to engage physically with the artwork. This was intentional. Di Suvero wanted to move sculpture out of traditional spaces such as studios galleries and museums into the public domain.
The story of its creation is almost as fascinating as the artwork itself. It involved a great deal of improvisation. Securing a crane for instance wasn’t easy. But a friend in the construction business stepped up providing the necessary equipment. Frankel Steel provided the steel and beams.
The process wasn’t without its challenges. Union regulations dictated that di Suvero couldn’t operate the crane himself. A union crane operator was brought in. For several days di Suvero worked alongside his assistants and the operator creating this masterpiece right there on the York University campus.
The original color of the Sticky Wicket sculpture was not orange. It was repainted later. The sculpture’s dimensions are impressive. It measures 427 centimeters wide 670 centimeters high and 1371 centimeters deep.
After its completion in 1978 di Suvero generously donated the Sticky Wicket to York University in 1979. It stands today as a reminder of a collaborative spirit a testament to the power of art to transform spaces and a quirky story of crane operations on a university campus. It remains a celebrated piece on campus a true example of large-scale public art at its finest.