Lakeside

Lakeside is an installation about two merging stories; the restoration of a 1975 ford courier and the other a deep love for the unchanged Lakeside amusement park established in 1908. I’ve been restoring a blue 1975 ford courier since 2022. I knew nothing about working on cars, but had a will to learn, to fail, and a curiosity that drove my mission. I use my drawing practice to connect the dots, along with plenty of “how to videos”. I would use my drawing to cement certain functions of the engine in my head, an artists form of flash cards. 

Lakeside amusement park is the dream mission for this little pick up truck, a place where 1975 came and retired. (If you’ve never been to Lakeside, personal exploration is highly encouraged.) If I could get this truck to drive, from this field it was once abandoned in to the township of Lakeside, my dream of learning the fundamentals of working on a classic vehicle would come full circle. Even though I would drive it home after a visit, Lakeside feels like a homecoming for this little truck. 

Why lakeside? Lakeside has deep roots in my blood. I was born in Denver, it was the first amusement park I went to. I remember sneaking on to the wild chipmunk when I was too short to ride.  It’s nostalgic, it brings me back to a place and time in my life. I love that Lakeside hasn’t changed much, and even less rides work and sit idle. Most of the lights do not work but the ones that do feel like magic… just like when I finally get all the lights to work in my little blue truck. 

“Lakeside” is a shrine to this creative restoration journey and my deep infatuation for lakeside amusement park. Collections of ephemera found along the restoration process. Accompanied by Illustrations of the sites I hope this little blue truck might see one day.