Finished Altar Top

Folks the top of the altar is done. It is really fascinating to look at up close as the wood is like a relief map with all of it's contours. These planks met their final form only after seventy-five years worth of grain had trickled down them. Every board is unique and there are many different patterns for the eye to see. I think that in some way the topography of the altar top is reminiscent of all the rolling hills, valleys and coulees upon which our Province's grain grows.



















They are also stained some beautiful rich hues as canola often went up this particular elevator leg. During the trip to the top some of the seeds would always spill out of the scoops and cascade down the leg shaft. As gravity ran it's course the tiny canola seeds smashed and their oils would stain the leg boards.










The boards were not in pristine condition. Besides the usual splits and cracks you'd expect from old dry lumber there are some big gouges sustained during salvage. This was fine but one of the things I keep feeling over and over again while handling this wood is how better to tell the story of it's working life. I used the gouges as a way to do this; I glued down some grains in a few spots - a small river of grain in one board and some rivulets of grains elsewhere.

This is wheat grown on my wife's family's farm. My hope is that these wheat grains and the altar will help people to think about the historical importance of elevators, the essence of a grain elevator, and by extension all the Saskatchewan farmers whose labours have fed people around the world.