Whenever Cameron Reed crosses the new Gordie Howe International Bridge and sees the iconic art work set to be installed at the Canadian Port of Entry, he’ll fondly reflect back on his experience of feeling “appreciated and heard.”

Reed, who recently graduated from Catholic Central High School, was part of a group of community representatives asked to provide their input on what sort of concepts the installation should include.

Along with classmates Mackenzie Lewis Yang and Jemila Suraj, and Sydnie Moore, the WECDSB’s Graduation Coach for Black, African and Caribbean Students, Reed met with representatives of Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority to offer some ideas for the artist who was commissioned for the installation. 

Those suggestions were passed along to Jordan Sook, a contemporary mixed media artist from Toronto who works in sculpture, installation and painting, focusing on the recontextualization and understanding of the environment around us through the use of familiarity and ready-made objects.

“I really felt heard and appreciated that someone felt the need to say, ‘Hey, I shouldn't take this on as a solo project because this represents everybody,’” said Reed, who will study political science at the University of Windsor this fall and has plans to go to law school. “It's cool to see that we're finally listening to the community and hearing what they have to say when it comes to stuff like this.”

Sook recently unveiled a conceptual image of his work, a large-scale free-standing sculpture titled Make a Joyful Noise, which pays homage to freedom-seekers of African descent who were leaving behind slavery and oppression by travelling the Underground Railroad to Canada.

The work, which will be installed in 2025 when the new bridge opens, is a three-metre circular metal structure composed of replica church pews and intentional lighting. Through this concept, the artist signifies the network of institutions, connectivity and resilience, and a pathway through the uses of: 

• replica church pews to represent the role churches often played in offering assistance and safe harbour for those travelling from the southern US to freedom in the north 
• the circular form to represent the idea of looking up to the sky, which provided direction to those travelling along the Underground Railroad 
• lighting at night to help simulate the stars that aided navigation. 

Reed, who attended the concept’s unveiling with his classmates, said the artist truly incorporated the community’s suggestions into the sculpture and that the piece really spoke to him.

“I was completely able to understand the gravity and the impact that this piece had because it hit me right in my heart,” he said. “It truly made me feel. I get it, like I understand. It really opened my eyes to how different culture is, depending on the person, depending on your experience of Black Culture, and depending on your experiences as a human. You could relate to this piece in your own way, and I think that changed me because I was able to see a whole new way of thinking.”

For his part, Sook said he loved the process of meeting with community members to hear their ideas.

“The process of getting to this concept was a truly inspiring experience.” he said. “Being immersed in the Windsor-Detroit community and spending time with descendants gave me a lot of perspective, insights, and thought starters which played a role in the development of this concept. With this work I aim to honor the past, empower the present and inspire future generations.”

A graphic conceptual image of Jordan Sook's sculpture. Image supplied by Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority.