Public Artwork

Tome

Phil Morrison, Tome, 2002
Phil Morrison, Tome, 2002
Location:
Two Rivers Gallery, 725 Civics Plaza, Prince George, BC, V2L 5T1, Canada
Artwork creator(s): 
Morrison, Phil
Text author(s): 
Morrison, Phil
Installation year: 
2002
Description: 

Totem made of washer-dryers

Text of the artwork: 

OUTSIDE SO THAT IT CAN SLOWLY RUST AND I CAN WATCH
TAKE AWAY FROM IT WOULD BE COOL TO EXHIBIT IT IN A GALLERY BUT IN THE END I WANT TO PLANT IT
THE STRENGTH OF THE THING IT BECOMES WEAKER WITH WORDS THE NAME THE DEFINITION AND DESCRIPTION
WHICH WAS TO BUILD A DETERIORATING CAGE OF LANGUAGE WHEN I CUT OUT THE WORDS IT REMOVES FROM
BETWEEN IT AND THE WALL BUT FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS I DECIDED TO GO WITH MY ORIGINAL IDEA
DISPLAY IT IN A ROOM THAT WAS ONLY A FOOT OR TWO LARGER THAN IT SO THAT YOU’D HAVE TO SQUEEZE
CONFRONTATIONAL IT WAS I HAD THE URGE TO SCREW IT ALL TOGETHER WITHOUT CUTTING ANYTHING AND
SIMULTANEOUSLY WHEN I FIRST SET THESE UP IN THE STUDIO I WAS A BIT SURPRISED AT HOW

I’M GOING TO START IN THE MIDDLE THEN WORK DOWN TO THE GROUND AND UP TO THE SKY

SIMULTANEOUSLY WASHERS AND DRYERS WERE A PRACTICAL CHOICE I WAS ABLE TO GET A LOT OF MATERIAL FOR NOTHING THAT’S IMPORTANT I’M PAYING THOSE HIGH GAS PRICES TOO THE DIMENSIONS OF THE APPLIANCES WERE JUST RIGHT BELIEVE IT OR NOT ONCE THEY’VE BEEN STRIPPED THEY CAN BE MOVED AROUND FAIRLY EASILY BY ONE PERSON WHICH MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO WORK ON THIS SCALE WITHOUT THE NEED FOR HEAVY EQUIPMENT I LIKE THE FACT THAT I’M RECYCLING THIS METAL BUT THAT WASN’T A PRIMARY CONCERN FOR WHAT I’M DOING WITH THEM IT WAS NECESSARY TO FIND FORTY MACHINES WITH  IDENTICAL PROPORTIONS I WAS SURPRISED THAT IT TOOK ME LESS THAN TWO WEEKS TO GET ALL OF THIS NICE THIN METAL AND SUCH BEAUTIFUL COLORS TOO

Text theme: 
The artist’s random impressions during the creative process
Artwork theme: 

The artist’s experience of being a homeowner; over-rationalized art; language

History: 

Created in 2001, set in 2002.

Event: New Works, Two Rivers Gallery (Curator: George Harris).

Date: July 23-October 6, 2002

Event date(s): 
2002

Dimensions:

Height: 
4.57m
Width: 
2.28m
Depth: 
2.28 m
Owner(s): 
Collection of the artist
Document(s): 

Phil Morrison. New Work

Harris, George (2002).  Phil Morrison. New Work. Prince George : Two Rivers Gallery