Texaco - Jackrabbit, AZ Possibly 1962 - 1989

Editor: This is Edward Ruscha’s photograph, "Texaco - Jackrabbit, AZ". It’s a small black and white image, and I'm struck by how ordinary it seems, like a snapshot. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see Ruscha engaging with the vernacular landscape. He’s elevating the mundane gas station to the level of art, reflecting the growing car culture and consumerism. Editor: So it's less about the place itself and more about what it represents culturally? Curator: Exactly. Think about the rise of the automobile and roadside attractions in post-war America. Ruscha’s focus on the Texaco station highlights the changing social landscape and the increasing homogenisation of the American West. What do you make of the jackrabbit on top of the building? Editor: I hadn't considered it, but it adds a playful, regional twist to this very commercial scene. Curator: Indeed, it's a collision of the local and the corporate, making us consider the impact of consumerism on regional identities.