Ford Grove (2001)

Douglas Taylor

Coppersmith Corner Shopping Centre, 11388 Steveston Hwy.

Area: South Arm
Location: Next to the TD Canada Trust Branch in the Coppersmith Corner Shopping Centre.

Materials: A 1952 Ford pickup truck and aspen trees.

Program: Private
Ownership: Private
Sponsored By: Suncor Development Corp.

Description of Work

This red truck once worked the blueberry fields that once covered the site of the shopping centre. As the trembling Aspen grow larger the ‘52 Ford will rise higher. Nature engages technology in this piece.

Artist Statement

Ford Grove addresses the historic erosion of farmland over the past decades: ubiquitous fields of blueberries have been replaced with strip malls, condo developments and warehousing . . . an ongoing eradication of some of the world’s richest farmland. This Ford pickup was at one time working in those blueberry fields!

This metaphor of the machine being invaded by nature also offers speculations on the future of unfettered development. Indeed, it is only a matter of years before the trees have their way with this vehicle.