LOST:Gas station

Illinois-wide public art installation

Poster in edition of 250.

Messages received and collected by call center

2003-2004

DVD film

2006

‘LOST: Gas Station,’ was first a public art installation in Illinois (2003), and recently edited into a film (2006). The original artwork was a series of posters distributed throughout Illinois. The text advertised, ‘LOST: Have you seen this gas station,’ accompanied by a photograph and toll-free phone number. The film documents all the calls received, with close-up still photographs of the original gas station photograph fading in and out.

I was living in Illinois when I discovered the lost gas station as a photograph in a junk store. I wouldn’t have noticed it if it weren’t for it’s fairly elaborate gold frame, and I wondered why anyone would frame a photograph of a gas station in this way. It was obvious that someone had sentimental interest in this particular gas station, but I would never know why. I liked the idea of taking on the burden of loving it.