Accession Number
1976/2.13

Title
Petit's Mobil Station, Cherry Hill, New Jersey

Artist(s)
George A. Tice

Artist Nationality
American (North American)

Object Creation Date
1974

Medium & Support
gelatin silver print on paper

Dimensions
9 1/2 in x 7 1/2 in (24.13 cm x 19.05 cm);18 1/8 in x 22 1/8 in (46.04 cm x 56.2 cm);14 in x 17 in (35.56 cm x 43.18 cm)

Credit Line
Museum Purchase

Subject matter
This photograph depicts a Mobil gas station in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, at night. The glow of light coming from the station and the gas pump stand out starkly against the rest of the dark scene, with the enormous form of a water tower emerging eerily in the background—Tice indicated that the water tower reminded him of the position of Lincoln Cathedral in Frederick Evans' 1898 photograph "Lincoln Cathedral: From the Castle". To make this photograph, Tice exposed the film for nearly ten minutes, closing the lens cap every time a car drove by to block the light. The result is a surreal and unworldly image that presents a ubiquitous suburban scene in an entirely new light. 

Physical Description
Photograph of a gas station with a water tower in the background.

Primary Object Classification
Photograph

Collection Area
Photography

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.

Keywords
artificial light
buildings
car
gasoline
modern and contemporary art
night
service stations
suburbs
water towers