Exhibit features art inspired by railway

Artists throughout several decades have been capturing the culture and history of the railroad.

Some of the artwork has focused on the railroad itself, while often the railroad has become a natural part of the landscape of a place making its way into the artwork.

In celebration of the connection between art and the railroad, the Hockaday Museum of Art is presenting “Hear the Whistle Blow! Art of the Railway,” featuring nostalgic and contemporary works featuring the railway as seen through the artists’ eyes.

The exhibit opens with a reception on Thursday, Sept. 26 from 5-7 p.m. The event is free for members and open to the public with $10 admission.

Whitefish artists Rob Akey and Jack Dykstra have served as guest curators of the exhibit, which was born out of conversations they’ve had over years about the connection between the railroad and art.

Dykstra is a railroad enthusiast who has detailed knowledge about the railroad’s history throughout the world, but also how artists have depicted the railroad throughout history. Growing up in Whitefish, Akey has a connection to the railroad familiar to many people.

“When you talk about the cultural narrative of the railroad it’s interesting, but as artists for us it’s natural to visit that through art,” Akey said. “The railroad is part of my fabric. I spent three summers as a gandy dancer working on the railroad, and I grew up listening to trains in the rail yard. The railway is part of who we are and it’s also a part of the landscape. The idea of the show is that the railroad has been interpreted through and has had an influence on art.”

The exhibit runs through Dec. 7 featuring fine art images along with supporting historic railroad material. The Stumptown Historical Society agreed to loan railroad items to the museum as part of the exhibit.

The exhibit also looks at modern artists focusing on the railroad and those who have included the railroad as a part of their broader work. Historical artwork has been loaned to the museum and artists have created pieces specifically for the show that will be for sale.

Artist J. Craig Thorpe will give an informative and fun artist talk “Companions: Railroads, Art, and the National Landscape,” 11 a.m. to noon, Friday, Sept. 27. The presentation is free and open to the public.

Thorpe is a modern American commercial and landscape artist currently residing in Seattle. Much of his work depicts trains and the rail transport industry in the Western United States and Alaska.

A curator presentation will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 5 p.m.

Sponsoring partners of the exhibit include BNSF Railway Foundation, Stumptown Historical Society, Whitefish Community Foundation, and Scott and Jane Wheeler.

For more information, visit www.hockadaymuseum.org or call 755-5268.