I am ready for my final, everything is printed, I have my mats, my artist statement is almost done

Exxon

I know that I wanted to say away for big name places, but I could not pass up a chances of photographing this place. When I was here the only person that was working was the owner, he was extremely polite, and extremely helpful.

Kent McCutchen, is the owner of this Exxon, this is the only place that I know of that is a service station, yes this Exxon does minor repairs. McCutchen has owned the Exxon for 27 years, but the station has been there for 43 years. McCutchen explained to me that lots of things have changed over the years, the business changes by up and down. He also told me that when he was a child the stations did not have a convention store with the station, they were a lot more service stations.

These images are working prints.

Stay focus

Finals are coming up and it is just going to get even more crazier. This week has been busy, I have not gotten a chance to photograph this week. I plan to go to a few places in Greenvile, and try to get talk to the owner of a place in commerce.

I just need to stay calm and stay focus on what i need to get done, and stay with the plan.

D & E Discount Tire Auto Supply

They have been opened for about 33 years, over the years it has changed do to technology. Next to the Shop they have a parts store, so you can get what you need. They do front end work, and exhaust work on cars. The previous owners and the owner now, will at times get together to have breakfast.
They would not allow me to photography in the actual shop do to insurance reasons

South Hi-Way Garage Inc.

South Hi-Way Garage Inc. opened in 1958, at first they had a lot of business, they have their busy times and there are times that they aren't very busy. They have a side business of towing viecalis, and also four mananchies to work on cars. 40 years ago they use to have gas for the company veicals. This garage was also grandfathered into the city of Edinburg TX.

University Auto Body & Collision

This repair shop has been opened for 28 years, since they have opened they have expanded their shop and had upgraded their equipment such like computers. They were grandfathered into Edinburg city limits. They were very open to me to photographing them at work. They just kept working and let me take photographs.




This is Ida Contreras the office mangaer for University Auto body & collision repair shop, in Edinburg TX

Proposal

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For my project I will be photographing the small hole in the wall auto repair shops, not the chain repair shops, in east and south Texas. I will be photographing them from their fronts, also inside the shops (if they will allow me to) and even photograph the owners/managers in the office. I will be looking and showing how they are the same and different. I hope to get a better understanding of what is their reason of, why they are a repair shop? Did they sell gas at anytime? Over the years have they (the shops) changed?

The station and repair shop use to be one place. Motorists knew them as “filling stations” or “service stations”. They would fill your car with gas and check your oil, even do major repairs. When the car era started they need more up keep, that’s why there was so many of the of the stations. They split apart because the cars became more computerized and higher quality.