Modern Erratics Sculptures Transform Discarded Plastic into Public Art

At the end of this week, three new sculptural “erratics” will be present in our landscape. These large artworks, collectively titled Modern Erratics, will arrive at the Forestry Farm Park, Diefenbaker Park and Material Recovery Centre.

Inspired by large glacier-deposited rocks called erratics, which are present across the Saskatchewan plains, the artworks recreate these natural forms using discarded plastic collected from Saskatchewan and the broader Prairie region. Using 3D scans of locally sourced stones, the artists created geometric, contemporary recreations of erratics that draw connections between materials carried by ancient ice sheets with present-day plastics that travel long distances and remain in the environment for generations.

To that end, the artists fabricated the sculptures by processing over 4,500 kilograms (10,000 lbs) of used plastic to form the erratics.

“Public art helps shape how people experience and connect with our shared spaces,” says Lesley Anderson, Director of Planning and Development with the City of Saskatoon. “Modern Erratics reflects Saskatoon’s commitment to meaningful, site-responsive artwork. By transforming plastic waste into large-scale sculptures, these installations invite people to think differently about materials, sustainability and our relationship with the land.”

Each sculpture incorporates materials connected to its location:

• Forestry Farm Park (1903 Forestry Farm Park Drive) uses recycled black and white plastic grain bags commonly used on prairie farms.
• Diefenbaker Park (St Henry Avenue, near the Optimist Hill parking lot) is made of colourful recycled bottle caps provided by SARCAN, reflecting materials commonly discarded in parks.
• Material Recovery Centre (42 Valley Road), the largest erratic, is constructed from decommissioned, shredded black, blue and green carts formerly used by households across the city.

Modern Erratics, created by Calgary-based artist duo Sans façon (Charles Blanc and Tristan Surtees), was selected through a competitive, juried process by the City’s Public Art Advisory Committee. The sculptures were commissioned through the City’s Percent for Art Program, which enhances public spaces by allocating up to one per cent of designated civic project budgets to public art. Funding for these works was provided through the 2022 Material Recovery Centre project budget.

“These artworks aim to foster a deeper connection between residents and the environment. They celebrate creativity, spark curiosity and encourage active participation, inviting the public to explore new relationships with the materials we use, reuse or discard,” says Anderson.

Developed through consultation with Indigenous advisors, sustainability professionals, as well as land and heritage experts, Modern Erratics explores material reuse, environmental responsibility and the realities of modern recycling systems. The sculptures will serve as prominent landmarks and sites of interest, encouraging residents and visitors to reflect on consumption, waste and the materials used in everyday life.

Residents can learn more about the artworks and the processes used to create them at free public events being hosted on Friday, June 26, 2026, including an artist talk with Sans façon. More information can be found at saskatoon.ca/publicart.

Artist Biography

For over twenty-five years artist duo Sans façon (Charles Blanc & Tristan Surtees) have been fascinated by the relationship between people and place. Based in Calgary, their diverse international practice includes ephemeral performances, large-scale permanent artworks, collaborative infrastructure projects and developing and implementing city-wide strategies involving artists in discourse with a city. Their work tempts interaction with the surroundings and is developed in close collaboration with communities, organizations and individuals, which have included City Councils, scholars, perfumers, composers, architects and engineers.

Their first work for Saskatoon, the temporary project Cacher pour mieux montrer, was realized in 2013 through the City’s Placemaker Program and was the recipient of an Americans for the Arts Public Art Network Award. Their work has continued to be recognized in multiple disciplines including the 2021 Canadian Society of Landscape Architecture Award of Excellence for their project 'Dale Hodges Park’.

Three years in the making, Modern Erratics will be their first permanent project in Saskatchewan.