All aboard

Brainerd Dispatch/Nels Norquist

• Photos

Back | Next

Back | Next

Back | Next

Don't miss the train.

Artrain USA will be in Brainerd only through Tuesday, offering residents the chance to view a contemporary Native American art exhibition housed in a five-car vintage train.

The traveling art museum opened to invited guests Friday after a ribbon-cutting ceremony that included Brainerd Mayor James Wallin and Baxter City Council member Barb Wells. Wallin proclaimed this week, "Artrain USA" week in the city, requesting that citizens of all ages climb aboard the Artrain to gain a better understanding of Native American art. The train, on Front Street at Ninth Street in Brainerd, is handicapped-accessible.

The exhibit titled, "Native Views: Influences of Modern Culture," includes 71 artworks by 54 Native American artists. Laura Antolak Drew serves as program director for the non-profit Michigan-based Artrain USA. Drew is a 1982 Pequot Lakes High School graduate. She told community members gathered at Friday's ceremony that she felt fortunate that the train's only stop in Minnesota was in the Brainerd lakes area.

"I grew up in this community so it's really nice to bring it back to this community and share it with family and friends," said Drew.

Brainerd Dispatch/Nels Norquist

Drew said the Native Views exhibit will run from 2004-2007, visiting about 30-35 communities each year with more than 300,000 people visiting this exhibit by 2007. Drew said it costs about $50,000 to take the train into a community, which wouldn't be possible without local community support. Brainerd Community Action sponsored the train, but many other businesses and organizations volunteer time or financial support for the art exhibit. Minnesota-based 3M Corp. donated the graphics along the sides of Artrain USA, she said.

The Crossing Arts Alliance organized and trained about 45 community volunteers who will serve as tour guides for Artrain USA during its exhibition in Brainerd through Tuesday.

"I think this is so exciting," said Evelyn Matthies, president of the Crossing Arts Alliance, as she viewed the art inside Artrain USA Friday. "This is something really unusual. It's an exciting opportunity to view art, particularly in such close proximity. I can see us bringing it again in the future."

Matthies suggested that people who view the exhibit take time to read the information about the artwork and artist found beside each art piece. She said they should ask themselves these questions in the following order, "What do you see?" "How is it put together?" "What is the artist trying to say?" and "Do I like it?"

Brainerd Dispatch/Nels Norquist

It may help provide a greater appreciation of the exhibition for visitors, she said.

"I just find this so fascinating," said Barb Wenschlag, a Pine River Elementary School art teacher who took her time examining the artworks within the traveling art museum Friday. "To bring something like this to the community is just fabulous. I wish more kids would come and see this."

"It's pretty cool," said Ryan Williams, 8, Brainerd. "I like all of it."

Artists will be on hand throughout the exhibit to demonstrate a variety of art. There are seven crew members who travel with Artrain. After its stop in Brainerd it will travel to North Dakota. The train is pulled by railroad trains to its stops. Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Union Pacific railroads brought Artrain USA to Brainerd from its last stop in Iowa.

JODIE TWEED can be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.