Making Tracks Exhibition Berry Shed North Corston 26-27 September 2015

TEF-20 Ferguson Tractor
An exploration of the culture of the islanders of North Uist in contrast to that of  Perthshire.. Throughout the beautiful landscape  of Uist  many objects are  left out to rust rather than being disposed of.  Some perhaps have simply fallen victim to the harsh winter storms, whilst others appear to have been placed in the landscape.

Taking inspiration from Jonathan Mead’s documentary – Isle of Rust, I  turned one of these abandoned rusty relics into a sculpture. In its semi naked and decomposing state this relic looks rather ascetically attractive, but  the Grey Ferguson tractors were culturally significant in changing crofting practices on the islands, and in Perthshire being the first cheaply mass produced tractor are and iconic agricultural machine.
​
The prints compare, contrast and celebrate the two Grey Fergie’s of a similar age, the prized possession belonging to my husband and the one left abandoned on North Uist. Many prints of the same image have been made making reference to this being the first mass produced tractor.