USask alumna on journey to make 5,000 key sculptures

For more than a decade, University of Saskatchewan (USask) graduate Kathy Allen (BA’88) has vowed to create 5,000 key sculptures.

“I like their magical, fantastical, and symbolic qualities,” said Allen, who earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English at USask’s College of Arts and Science in 1988.

The unique key project officially began for Allen in 2015, after she made a few keys in 2012 and 2013 from found and upcycled objects and discovered that people weren’t fully understanding her work. She then took to social media, where she publicly vowed to create 5,000 keys as a result.

“I had been making some keys and was getting frustrated that people needed them to be functional,” Allen told the Green&White. “So, I made a bit of a ranty post where I said, ‘I’m going to make 5,000 keys and none of them will be jewelry,’ and a friend commented something like: ‘You should do that, and you should blog about it, and I can help you with your blog.’ And I said, ‘OK!’ And it’s been mostly a terrific journey and adventure ever since.”

Allen, an award-winning Saskatoon-based theatre and visual artist, has long been a part of the city’s arts community. Before retiring in 2025, Allen served as an art and grants consultant with the City of Saskatoon for more than 12 years as well as a dance, music, and theatre consultant with SK Arts for more than nine years.

In 2021, Allen coordinated the first SK Theatre Design Festival. In 2022, she took part in the Saskatchewan Wearable Art Gala, where she was awarded first prize in the open category for the metal cape she made. In 2025, she was named the Community Building Award winner as part of the annual Saskatoon and Area Theatre Awards.

Currently, Allen has created more than 2,750 keys. She blogs about the process and shares photos of her work online at www.5000keys.com. The Green&White recently connected with Allen to ask her questions about her project and her time as a USask student.

G&W: What was the best part of studying at USask?

Allen: It was a terrifically creative and mind-expanding time. I was fortunate to be able to take part in an abundance of theatre projects, learn things, meet people—many who are still good friends today and/or are working in the arts—and was absolutely encouraged to experiment, imagine, create, and see a bigger picture of the world.

G&W: Why would you recommend USask and the College of Arts and Science to prospective students?

Allen: The education is high quality and well rounded. The campus itself is also beautiful and being able to be surrounded by beauty is a gift.

G&W: How was your USask education beneficial in your roles as an artist, director, stage manager, and teacher?

Allen: In a practical sense I learned to manage my time and workload through my years at USask, think more deeply, improve my writing skills, and expand my overall knowledge of the humanities and people in general. I still apply the lessons I learned from my professors in the work I do today.

G&W: You are currently working toward creating 5,000 key sculptures. What materials do you use to create the keys?

Allen: My favourite materials are found and upcycled metal objects and older, sparkly jewelry. Occasionally I make keys from other materials, like craft materials from my childhood or digital collages. I explore ways to create keys from the stuff I see around me. At this point I am very interested in putting parts together that look like they are so meant to be united that the individual bits aren’t quickly recognized.

G&W: How many keys have you created so far?

Allen: At the time of this writing, 2,751. I hope to get to 3,000 this year, but each key takes as long as it takes, and I don’t rush the process.

G&W: What feedback have you received on this project?

Allen: Very positive feedback. People seem most interested in keys that have components they recognize or are intrigued by. Recently I took apart on old cash register and people have been fascinated by that and the keys that I’m making with the parts. Occasionally I have people asking me to add a functional component to a key so they can wear it as a brooch or use it as a keychain—but that’s not the spirit of the project or the reality of the keys I make, so the answer is no.

G&W: What do you do with your keys after they have been created?

Allen: Every once in a while, I will make a key that strikes me as special; those ones I set aside and keep out in a display cabinet. The majority are inventoried and stored in boxes and plastic bins. I have sold keys over the years. My most exciting sale was Key 2100, for a gift from (former) City of Saskatoon Mayor (Charlie) Clark to Joni Mitchell for her 80th birthday. This past year I have started to more actively sell my keys by going to local markets, taking part in the first Riversdale Art Walk, having a small exhibit at a mall, and setting up an online shop on my website.

G&W: Do you have a favourite key or keys? If so, which ones are they—and why?

Allen: I have many favourite keys—either because the key came together in a particularly satisfying way or because it contains objects that are sentimental to me. Some of my most treasured keys are made from pieces from the road that have been beaten by weather and traffic—far more interesting because they have “lived a life” and are free finds.

I recently finished Key 2748—it’s made from a pair of my grandmother’s earrings, part of a bracelet from a dear friend, a favourite pendant, and some great thrift store finds. I almost gave up on the other side of Key 2748 as I was feeling out of creative juice—but I kept working on it and I am overjoyed with the results. (It’s) a very magical looking key, even more special because I persevered. Like most of the keys I’m particularly fond of, I can’t quite believe the making of it flowed through me.

G&W: What keeps you motivated and inspired as you work toward 5,000 keys?

Allen: It’s very important to me that I keep my word. I’m not perfect at doing that but it’s something I prioritize. I said I’d make 5,000, so I’m doing that. Plus, it’s mostly fun and I have enough ideas and supplies to make 50,000 keys. I think ultimately this is a project about finding value and belonging: value in my own self as an artist, value in what’s around me, and value in imagination.