The Original City Service Truck, was an experimental version designed to offer calming succor to restive populace during times of urban stress.
Die Cast Scale Model Truck, Motor, Panning Mechanism, 7” Video Screen, DVD Player, Looped DVD Video with Audio.
Dimensions: 10" x 8"x 18 1/2

The 1975 GMC 6500 Sierra model was the standard for short cab trucks when they were purchased. The 97 1/2" back-of-bed to cab (BBC) allow for longer body or trailer, bigger payloads, better weight distribution, and ease of maneuvering. The short hood design aided down-front visibility and put the 23(?) horsepower, 427 V-8 engine components within easy reach for maintenance and repair. As if a tribute to the rugged engineering, many of the original trucks were transferred to the newly established "City Service" section of the Public Works Department.

The City Service Trucks (CST) are meant to fill niche needs as derived from the experiences and observation of city support staff. In accordance with the city's cultural support policy, each truck has a designated role; from audio services, recreational demonstrations, cultural cleanup, and redefining / enhancing cultural institutions.

CST #0810/0010 is a response to the needs of Artist Run Centres which, in some instances, live a precarious existence within their communities. As a low cost alternative to the status quo, the use of this platform and its collapsible design allows the exhibition space to be located advantageously in responding to innovative events.

CST #0910/0011 is a public audio performance platform meant to cruise through the city providing audio works not normally associated with, or supported by, traditional cultural spaces. As well, it can provide "personal moments" sponsorships, arbitrary "historical reminders" announcements, or even "audio succor" for an anxious population.

CST #1010/0012, commonly known as the "sail truck", is a hybrid apparatus developed through the cooperation of long-distance truckers and local hobbyists, all enthusiasts for parking lot / road sailing. This rig has proven to be the most popular CST to date and can be seen most Sundays on the closed ring road (R405) of the city

CST #1110/0014 fulfills the un-glamorous necessity of the city's Cultural Clean-Up Division (CC-UD). This rare but controversial activity is an important contribution to the renewal of any city as is exemplified by the accompanying illustration. Here we see the rescue of the "Artist-in-Residence Studio" from the now demolished Museum of Embittered Artists (MOEA), founded in 1967. Through the efforts of the CC-UD the studio was transported to, and now resides in, the Museum of Anthropology.

CST #1210/0015 is unique. This truck was dedicated to maintain and display a city landmark sign which once rotated atop the Globe & Post Newspaper Building, at Main and Queen (which has also housed the city's Press Club since 1953). Fully restored, it is now used in parades, political rallies, and most poignantly, during annual homecoming celebrations at the School of Journalism

CST #0111/0016 This contraption, laughingly referred to as the “Fickle Finger of Fate”, was built by the German performance artists Kurt Sander and Vivian Phlug during their artist residency at the University. It was the main component of their forthright politicization of architectural landmarks in the city, meant to literally 'point out' buildings that best represented the powerful hegemony of capitalism in North America.  Long abandoned, but recently restored, it is now used as a tour guidance vehicle. It travels throughout the city, leading convoys of history buffs and pointing out largely the same architectural landmarks as best representing the city's success.

CST #0211/0017. This apparatus was discovered, under a tarp in the city's maintenance shed. The speculation is that the late Bob Cumming, former Director of Maintenance, built it in his spare time. It's thought that on a trip to Paris he saw the work of American artist James Turrell and was so impressed that he created something similar -yet portable- for various outdoor cultural events. It requires dangerously high voltage to power it and poses a serious threat of both eye and neurological damage because of its brightness and lamp operating frequency.