Yorke Graham doesn’t have to venture far to see one of his latest works.
It was about a year ago when the Boundary Bay-based metal artist, who works mainly with discarded metal and vintage objects, was approached about creating a feature for the Market Square in the new Southlands Community.
Paying homage to the area’s dairy history, Yorke and his wife Karen pitched the idea of a metal cow. While much of the province was in COVID-19 lockdown last spring, the couple was enthusiastically working together on the oversize “Southlands Cow.”
Yorke put his mischievous spin on the idea by adding a motor, seat and steering wheel to create a mechanical cow. He reached out to farming families in the Delta community and the B.C. Interior to gather old equipment and tools. Some of the pieces were even old implements that had been left on the Southlands property.
Once a good supply of metal was gathered, Yorke’s focus was to get the dimensions correct and they mapped out the basic frame of an oversized cow, approximately 1.25 times at 10 feet long.
Once the framework was established it became more about the artistic placement of each piece. Along the way Karen would provide feedback and ideas. She eventually became an integral part of the process - especially with the head.
The couple worked together, referencing photos and searching for particular pieces that would help mimic the shapes they were looking for. Yorke loves working with objects that have a history, and giving them a second life.
The Southlands Cow was moved to its home just outside the historic Red Barn in June. The Yorkes are thankful for the opportunity and express how wonderful it is that Southlands is supporting local art.
Last year the Optimist also featured the couple after they created an art installation that sits out front of the Andreas Homes’ development on 51st St. in Ladner.
