Gas Line (#8 of 10-Cityscapes Portfolio)

Name/Title

Gas Line (#8 of 10-Cityscapes Portfolio)

Entry/Object ID

80.37

Artwork Details

Medium

Print, serigraph on paper

Context

Credit Line: Gift of Mr. W.A. Harkleroad

Made/Created

Artist

Ron Kleemann

Date made

1979

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Frame Size

Height

22 in

Width

30 in

Dimension Description

Image Size

Height

17 in

Width

25 in

Interpretative Labels

Label

Ron Kleemann was one of the original artists of Photorealism. He was captivated by reflections on cars, and most of his work depicts motor vehicles of all kinds, especially New York fire trucks and racing cars from NASCAR. "Gas Line" depicts the aftermath of the OPEC oil embargo. In the 1970s, due to the OPEC oil embargo, oil prices jumped 350%. As costs increased, businesses laid off workers and confidence in the American dream wavered. President Nixon asked gas stations to voluntarily not sell gasoline on Saturday nights or Sundays. 90% of gas station owners complied, which caused long lines of motorists filling up their cars while they still could. Some states used odd-even rationing; vehicles with license plates ending with an odd number could only buy gas on odd-numbered days of the month, while others could only buy on even-numbered days.