Self-Service - Milan, NM Possibly 1962 - 1989

Editor: Ruscha’s black and white photograph, "Self-Service - Milan, NM," presents a desolate gas station. I’m struck by how ordinary it seems, yet the composition feels so deliberate. What’s your take on this image? Curator: Ruscha's work often elevates the mundane aspects of roadside America. Consider the socio-political context of the 1960s, with the rise of car culture and the interstate highway system. How does this image reflect the changing landscape and the cultural values associated with mobility and consumerism? Editor: It makes you wonder about the impact of these highways on small towns, almost like a snapshot of cultural shift. Curator: Precisely. The seemingly banal subject matter becomes a commentary on the evolving American landscape and the politics embedded within. I learned something new too!