By Jack Brittle, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Sculptures from artists across Canada can be found throughout Burlington’s downtown until May 31, 2026, as part of the Burlington Waterfront Sculpture Trail (BWST). The trail is organized by Cobalt Connects and the Dan Lawrie International Sculpture Collection (DLISC) and is currently celebrating its fifth anniversary.
According to BWST’s website, the goal is to “bring sculpture into the public realm in a free and accessible trail linking major elements of Burlington’s stunning downtown core and waterfront.” Participating artists are paid an exhibition fee to present their sculptures, and the DLISC team aids them in selling the works if they choose to put them up for sale.
Thadea Decora is an artist, stage designer, illustrator, and prop maker, whose piece, entitled Nyx 2025, is featured on the trail.
Decora described the sculpture as a “cyberpunk figure rising out of a pool of dirty water.”
“It was kind of a reflection on technology and AI,” she said. “When I came up with the concept, it [AI] was really new and fresh on my mind, but it’s still obviously a really big question. It’s also about the human figure and body, and my own feelings about my body and my appearance.”
Most of the piece is a fibreglass mannequin, and the hair is made of foam strips used for insulation. LED lights are zip-tied to the sculpture, running from the bottom up through the hair and down through the body. It is covered with iridescent holographic powder mixed with glue, giving the piece a metallic appearance, according to Decora. Decora also scanned and 3D-printed her own face onto the figure.
She spoke about what attracts her to the cyberpunk aesthetic.
“I love the kind of weird, gritty future of it,” Decora said. “Honestly, it seems like we’re approaching or even living in the beginnings of cyberpunk time. I think a lot of the themes of cyberpunk are still things that we’re dealing with now, like a lot of medical issues and stuff, where we’re talking about body modification and the integration of ourselves with the internet. Or using modern technology to modify or improve ourselves, which is something that I’m personally very interested in.”
“It really feels like now we’re actually living in that moment, minus some of the cool aesthetics,” she continued.
Decora said that her experience in prop-making causes her to approach creating art slightly differently.
“I think your more traditional artist would take something and just sculpt it from start to finish, which I’m absolutely capable of doing,” Decora said. “But I think my work in props makes me think of more efficient ways to create something. Taking a mannequin is a lot more efficient than hand sculpting an entire body and casting it. I just guarantee that was a faster way of doing it.”
Decora currently works for Casa Loma, where she focuses on making Halloween and horror props. Nyx 2025 is for sale for $18,000; purchase information for Decora’s piece and other available artworks can be found on the BWST website.
New this year to the Burlington Waterfront Sculpture Trail is the digital passport, which allows participants to collect points upon viewing the art along the trail; points ultimately offer the chance to win one of five $100 Burlington Downtown gift cards.
Every year, the BWST gives out an Audience Choice Award to the sculpture with the most votes. Passersby can scan the QR under a sculpture to download the BWST passport and vote for their favourite piece. The winning artist receives a $1000 cash prize.
A free one-hour guided tour of the trail will take place on May 26, starting at the Spencer Smith Park gazebo.
