Marcus Bowcott’s public artwork Trans Am Totem under construction (video, photos)

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      Artist Marcus Bowcott’s Trans Am Totem, a sculpture installation curated by the Vancouver Biennale, began construction on Monday (March 30).

      According to Bowcott, the sculpture is a commentary on consumer culture specific to its location at the foot of False Creek at Quebec Street and Milross Avenue.

      “In a certain sense I’m saying, ‘Let’s realize we’re on the horns of a dilemma here.’ We’re fascinated by speed, we’re fascinated by consumer objects, and this consumerism has an effect on our nature,” Bowcott said.

      A Pro-tech employee uses a cherry picker to fasten half of an old-growth cedar tree to a metal post during the construction of artist Marcus Bowcott’s Trans Am Totem, a 10-metre high sculpture located at Quebec Street and Milross Avenue.
      Amanda Siebert

      Made with the trunk of an old-growth cedar tree from southern Vancouver Island and five scrap cars, the installation of the sculpture required a crew from Pro-tech Industrial Movers, a logger, and an engineer, and will take a total of two days to complete.

      Marcus Bowcott’s Trans Am Totem is constructed by Protech employees on Monday, March 30. The sculpture stands at the corner of Quebec Street and Milross Avenue.
      Amanda Siebert

      Traffic along Quebec Street is reduced to one lane during the installation.

      For more information, check out the Vancouver Biennale here, or follow Bowcott on Twitter: @marcusbowcott.

      A Pro-tech employee uses a cherry picker to fasten half of an old-growth cedar tree to a metal post during the construction of artist Marcus Bowcott’s Trans Am Totem, a 10-metre high sculpture located at Quebec Street and Milross Avenue.
      Amanda Siebert

      Comments

      2 Comments

      G Lloyd

      Mar 31, 2015 at 2:22pm

      The first time I saw my cousin Tony's brand new Firebird... And Janie... And Janie... And... Carolyn. I guess I could be pretty pissed off about what happened to me... but it's hard to stay mad, when there's so much beauty in the world. Sometimes I feel like I'm seeing it all at once, and it's too much, my heart fills up like a balloon that's about to burst... And then I remember to relax, and stop trying to hold on to it, and then it flows through me like rain and I can't feel anything but gratitude for every single moment of my stupid little life... You have no idea what I'm talking about, I'm sure. But don't worry... you will someday.
      -American Beauty 1999
      The new Quebec Street Totem, I'm almost sure one of those Firebirds belonged to my Cousin.... It's on my Bucket List.

      BCallum

      Apr 1, 2015 at 5:51pm

      It's just too precious to placed there. Why not in North Vancouver in front of the artist's home? Or maybe in front of Gregor Robertson's home? Or in front of the homes of the faceless bureaucrats who permitted this installation to be placed anywhere? Good grief!