Andy Scott Interview: Ullr

Here is an inside look at Andy Scott’s Sculpture Ullr, which made its debut at Breckenridge Colorado in 2020.

1. How long did the project take to build?

 Difficult to say as I worked on several projects at once.  I’d say from concept to completion total maybe 18 months.

2. What was the inspiration behind the project?  

Breckenridge CO is proud of its Scandinavian roots and every year they have an Ullr Festival, where they celebrate Ullr, the Viking god of snow, in the hope he will bring good snowfall and a successful season.  The client (Grand Colorado on Peak 8) asked me to create something which would fit with that narrative, work well against the backdrop of their new hotel development as well as the surrounding mountains.

3. What is your favorite part about the project?  

I guess the dynamism of the pose, which looks great in-situ as he seems to be firing his snowflake-tipped arrow straight to the summit of Peak 8.

4. How many people were involved in the building process?

 Two: me and my buddy Rob.  Rob works for my studio colleagues FKB (an art & architecture fabrication company) and he played an invaluable role at the later stages of the sculpture’s development.  Then of course there are Valmont galvanizers, the trucking company, the crane operators, the on-site contractors who excavated and poured the foundation, and of course you guys.

5. Were there any complications in building the project?  

It was all complicated.  The trick with projects like this is to make it look easy.  Aesthetically the pose was tricky to actually sculpt: I’m no expert on archery but I had to make it look right and give him a sense of poised energy.  His scale meant he was challenging in regards to handling and fitting into galvanizing tanks and then trucking across the country.  Then, of course, actual assembly: sometimes in the galvanizing process things can change shape just a little due to lifting, heat, etc and this can mean connection points sometimes don't line up precisely as you had them in the studio.  Running the cable through him and up into the snowflake tipped arrowhead was also very difficult.  And as you know the foundation was complex as there were unexpected issues underground.  So all in all it was not the easiest project.

6. What are the materials involved in building the project/ where did you get the materials?  

Materials are simply mild steel which was then galvanized.  Steel from a local supplier and galvanizing in NJ.

7. Any fun/unique stories surrounding the project?  

It wasn't fun, but the covid lockdown caused me some real stress.  The client understandably wanted the sculpture in place for the start of the ski season and the opening of their new development, but I lost 7 weeks due to lockdown and then social unrest here in Philadelphia.  But the deadline could only move by a couple of weeks….  so it was very hard work but we made it.  

A more fun aspect I guess is the subject matter and those little aesthetic decisions I made.  We all know Vikings never wore pointed helmets, but we had to make him look like the typical idea of a Viking (even if the horns of his helmet would interfere with the string of his bow).  I also gave him snowflake patterned accessories around his belt…. which looks kinda cool, but actually are there to add weight to one side of his structure to help balance him.  

The client has also built a brand around the sculpture, so when we arrived on-site to install him, we had coffee from the Ullr Cafe, in Ullr mugs, wearing our Ullr hats, all of which are based on my original sketch of the sculpture proposal.

8. How has the public reacted to your art since installation?

 As far as I know, he’s been very well received by the citizens and visitors to Breckenridge. And my client is very pleased with him.   It’s a beautiful part of the world and I am delighted to have been able to contribute a little bit to its cultural landscape.

9. If you have an Instagram, what is your username?

andyscott.sculptures