ALBUM | DIY PROJECTS | GEAR | MOTR | PODCAST | VIDEO ART | VISUAL ART | PHILOSOPHY
One of our trusted mechanics making sparks at Goodwheel in Racine, WI
After spending nearly the entire summer with our well-tempered mechanic, we are happy to report that MOTR is back! We had several crucial items repaired that only a skilled mechanic with loads of patience could handle. One thing we’ve learned from years of working with different types of people is that you simply cannot pay someone to care. They either care or they don’t. And Nick Price of Goodwheel’s care for the ambulance has been clear. We deeply appreciate the knowledge and service that Nick provided, but even more, the amount of genuine care that he put into our project.
The lower manifold was rust-rotted at the exhaust exit and needed replacement. Pressure wasn’t being sustained, and the combustion was inadequate to drive without frequent stalling and overheating. This ended up requiring a full engine rebuild, which subsequently included replacing the water pump, timing chain, distributor, carb intake, full spark tune-up, and a rework of the vacuum lines system. This resolved the oil and exhaust leaks, restoring the engine. It now operates cleaner, cooler, and much quieter. Our mechanic said, “We brought it back to 1986 for you!"
Old 1986 Ford E350 manifold
Old 1986 Ford E350 timing chain
New 1986 Ford E350 distributor cap
All the back and forth to the mechanic has got us thinking deeply about why we put so much effort into MOTR. It's been a little over a year since our initial spark of inspiration for this idea. Our idealist nature didn't see the reality of the poor condition this vehicle was in, but our vision has been strong. It continues despite each new problem that arises. What keeps this interesting is that the purpose behind it gets clearer and evolves. When we finally cover it for the upcoming winter months, we look forward to spending time thinking about the intention and what's next.
One constant battle we struggle with is using technology to reach people. We don't want to use popular social platforms because it prematurely puts a frame around our art, and we cannot control our message. However, the use of these tools has become so prevalent it's hard not to use them. When you are nobody trying to say something, it's almost a luxury to do it another way. The rise of our surveillance society is also a large concern. How do we find freedom while our rights are being taken away? What do you do when you aren’t heard, or when you are silenced?
Communicating in-person seems like it would be better, but often ideas are lost in translation there as well, perhaps from digital cultures' influence. It has been hard to reach people through their apathy whether online or offline. Presenting a mysterious performance with MOTR allows us to invite interested people into a conversation, which we hope will spark curiosity to ask questions that take us beyond sound bites and slogans. How do we create a dialogue about important topics and lessen noise and confusion? What will it take for people to be open to discussion with those they disagree with?
We don't have the answer but by using MOTR as a storytelling vehicle we hope to find common ground. This winter we will slow down to explore these ideas and experiment with puppetry and video alongside our music to see what interesting stories we can tell, speaking to the struggles we all are having in these confusing times.
The good news is that the ambulance has come a long way! We only had it back for a couple of weeks and started updating the interior right away. Here are a bunch of before and after photos to show the progress.
ALBUM | DIY PROJECTS | GEAR | MOTR | PODCAST | VIDEO ART | VISUAL ART | PHILOSOPHY