The national tour is sponsored by DaimlerChrysler and combines more than 50 of America's most celebrated artists (and newcomers) like Linda Draper,
Jamie Wyeth, Andy Warhol, Norman Rockwell, Robert Rauschenberg and Peter Max who work in various styles created in oil, acrylic, pen and ink, watercolor and pencil. Accessibility for all
Although the base of operation
is Ann Arbor, Mich., the tour's commitment is to make art accessible nationwide, regardless of location or ability.
"We want to make Artrain USA available to every individual regardless of their circumstances," said
Debra Polich, president of Artrain USA.
The train is wheelchair accessible with lifts at the entrance and exit along with accommodations for wheelchairs in the interior galleries.
Artrain USA had accessibility prior to the
law, Polich noted. It widened pathways as much as possible. It put information in text about the works of art and the artists. It placed volunteers in each gallery car that can explain and provide additional information about the
exhibit.
"I think there is a tendency to think you have to have special education to be able to appreciate and be knowledgable about art," Polich said. "This is just not true. Art is everywhere."
With Artrain USA, everyone has an opportunity to appreciate and enjoy the beauty that is art.
Getting the art together and taking it on the road
"Typically people travel to cultural centers to view art but Artrain
USA is the only museum that travels to you," said Susan Lawson-Bell of Arlington, Va., artist and freelance curator of the current Artistry of Space exhibition.
"I designed the scope of the exhibit and story line and
selected the artwork that show off the story line," Lawson-Bell said. "Then I submitted my selections to the Artrain USA committee."
Artistry of Space is the first national touring exhibition to bring together
works of art from the collection of the National Air and Space Museum and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) art program. The exhibit, which began in July of 1999, will travel the rails aboard Artrain USA
until the exhibit changes in 2002.
By donations of locomotives to pull the railroad cars, the nation's railroads make it possible for the museum-in-a-train to visit communities along the tracks. With three gallery cars, a studio
car and a caboose the traveling team is made up of eight staff members, seven who travel by van between communities while one member travels onboard to maintain mechanical systems and to oversee security.
Before the train pulled
out of the station on its tour, the artwork was mounted to the walls and fronted with plexiglass to protect the artwork from possible damage. Care is taken to make sure the artwork is not exposed to too much light.
Art and science together
Einstein said that, "One of the strongest motives that leads men to art and science is escape from everyday life…"
"Science and art are considered to be separate from each other but
they are both creative processes," said Lawson-Bell. "Any subject matter can be a wonderful subject for art."
The curator did a good job of adding a lot of variety to the exhibition by not relying
solely on famous artists, noted
, of Virginia Beach, Va., one of the featured artists in the exhibition. "I hope people will take in a sense of excitement about space exploration after seeing my artwork,"
Draper said. "As the astronauts float loose in space there is a sense of beauty involved as well as danger."
The community of art
Artrain's mission is to enrich lives and build communities through the arts. The train visits 35 towns a year.
"The thing I love the most is my opportunity to get into the communities and work with the people," Polich
said.
Polich remembered how excited she felt when there was a young woman in the studio demonstrating her own art.
"She said she had been on board Artrain years before and her experience made her believe that people
could make a living as an artist," Polich said. "She was hopeful she would be able to turn other people on to the arts."
