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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Two: Travel Incongruities > The Jackrabbit, Joseph City, Arizona, 2006
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10-JUL-2006

The Jackrabbit, Joseph City, Arizona, 2006

The Jackrabbit Trading Post was built in 1949, catering to post World War II travelers driving along the now abandoned US Route 66. Located between Winslow and Holbrook, Arizona, it is still in business, and best known for a series of huge highway signs featuring a giant jackrabbit and a row of smaller rabbits up top offering additional embellishment. The final sign proclaims: "Here it is.” I turn the sign into an example of pure scale incongruity by abstracting it, including only the head of the giant jackrabbit and only one of its tiny companions. My close-up vantage point also reveals the wear and tear on the billboard. It has been doing its job for many years now, and judging from the crowds in its gift shop, it will continue to attract tourists traveling on US Interstate 40, which runs parallel to the remnants of Route 66 across Northern Arizona.

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Phil Douglis28-Jul-2006 23:45
Thank you, Kuan, for noticing the implication of freedom in the jackrabbit up top. I guess that's the good rabbit. The evil rabbit dominates with darkness and scale and could be considered the shadow of the smaller one.
Guest 28-Jul-2006 13:20
This is a very strong illustration here, Phil! I like the way that you use the Juxtaposition of the jackrabbits. It makes a very strong statement—thing we usually see is not what it appears to be.
The wood cut jackrabbit on the top has a sense of freedom, because of the light tones, blue spaces above, thus it looks kind and friendly. The evil-looking one below appears to be its shadow .The large size and the dark color seem so powerful and it dominate the whole picture, which makes a good contrast between them
Phil Douglis20-Jul-2006 03:33
Thanks, Emi -- I did know the cloud was there. In fact, I recall moving my vantage point to make the smaller rabbit fit within it -- it kind of bonded the small jackrabbit to the sign. The cloud appears to be crouching, which as you note, brings a surrealistic touch to this picture. I just did not equate it with the dream that Tim mentions.
Guest 20-Jul-2006 02:02
I didn't think of what Tim said either. But sure the cloud adds a touch to the picture. Make it more surrealistic. And the scale incongruity sure is very effective.

Emi
Phil Douglis16-Jul-2006 06:43
Why didn't I think of that, Tim? You often find little stories in my pictures that I never knew where there. That's why your own images are so full of subtle surprises. (Like the Kodak signs over my shoulder athttp://www.pbase.com/pnd1/image/62963257 )
Tim May16-Jul-2006 04:57
Because the small jackrabbit is surrounded by the clouds is seems to me as if the old worn jackrabbit is dreaming of the days of its youth and when Route 66 was a major artery.
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