Exploring AutoShop

Exploring Society Photographically

Students worked with internationally known documentary photographer to achieve a body of images along with text to express the issues that we are facing today. Students used photography as a means to document the current economic realities that we are facing today, such as home foreclosures, loss of jobs, businesses closing, cost increases in gasoline and food, etc.. This class engaged students in a positive and creative manner as to how to make a difference in society through theirreflective images and words for change.

Special Thanks to Mike and Dan from DC Tire & Auto, South Bend, for letting me get in their way to take pictures and talk to them.

Artist Statement

Hector Avitia

Class of 2009

Major: Marketing/ILS Minor

Hometown: Los Lunas

Some of the inspiration for this project comes from a recent trip in Chicago on a tow truck with my cousin Michael. Luckily for him and his family, the tow truck business has not been affected in such a way that it has changed his life. The obvious change in consumers’ buying behavior was that new vehicles were not being bought, but there was a more subtle change that has not been noticed by society as a whole. Through his job he could see the changes that the economy was having on everyday people. Normal maintenance is not as important as feeding the kids. A new set of tires is not a necessity like going to the doctor. Toiletries cannot be forgone to have the windshield wipers replaced. And then again, there are those that have gone through this past year without noticing anything different.
The purpose of documenting auto repair shops in the South Bend area is to capture the current state of vehicles during this first stage of the economic crisis. It will be an April 2009 snapshot of how cars are as they enter auto shops. The photographs will reflect both old and new themes. This means that many vehicles will have repairs done to them that are not unusual. An oil change or a dent removal job is done no matter what the economy is like. Other photographs of cars will reflect a trend in the way some people are treating their vehicles. This trend is that some vehicle owners are not having minor problems fixed right away because they do not have the money to fix the problem, then later will have to have expensive repairs done because one damaged part led to another broken part. Others are fixing up cars that have been lying around the yard because it is cheaper to get them fixed than to buy a new car. The idea behind showing usual day-to-day car repairs and some new-trend car repairs is to present a real portrayal of autos in 2009.
During the Great Depression, the FSA photographed every facet of life. Some photographers concentrated on the harsher part of life, such as the unemployed, and others captured the typical life of many Americans that did not get affected as intensely. The project has a balance by showing both the harsh and not so harsh side of the current economic crisis. This is a more realistic depiction of what is going on.
Of course, a car is not complete without its owner. There are cars that are so similar that the untrained eye cannot tell them apart, but once the owners stand next to them the two cars could not be more different. The relationship between the owner and the car says a lot about the owner. Very briefly, I intend to add the human aspect of the project by taking shots of owners with to their vehicles. Pictures of oil and metal say a lot, but the story is not complete without the owner to shine some light on the picture.

Exploring AutoShop

Exploring Society Photographically

Off to the Auto Shop

Big Papa

Don't Tread On Me

Double Trouble

d'Elegance

Hoist Lift

Caravan Brakes

Light in The Dark

May 7, 2009

Special Thanks

Artist Statement

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