Shoveling

Shoveling – February 13 – 19, 2011 (winter)

It took me four days to clear the snow. For more go to:
Shoveling – Day 2: Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Shoveling – Day 3: Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Shoveling – Day 4: Thursday, February 17, 2011
Epilogue (the effects of temperature)

SITE: North-west corner of Cowie Street and Robinson Street South, Granby, Québec, Canada. Site of a former service station, which had had the contaminated soil removed, leaving only about 20% of the 160′ x 135′ piece of property covered in asphalt. (see map)

ACTIONS: shoveling the snow from the asphalt covered area of the site; the same area I cleared of weeds and debris during the October (fall) period of the residency.

In working the pragmatic aesthetic the asphalt section of the land was treated as a large two-dimensional surface and through the actions reveal its intrinsic beauty. There was just over two feet of snow when I began shoveling on Monday, February 14. The temperature and weather varied considerably as I experienced rain, deep freeze and very warm spring-like conditions all within the four day period it took to clear the snow. By the last day, Friday, February 18, the snow had melted to just below a foot thick, over half the snow had disappeared.