Ready – Set - Draw!

Or paint, sculpt, model, engrave, cast, photograph, or anything you can think of to enter the Railroad Reflections International Art Expo. It is a new art show that is centered on railroads and the railroading experience and is the product of a collaboration between Stephen Lincoln and Steven Saylor. Both are Trustees of the Northern Nevada Railway Foundation and are organizing the art show as a fundraiser for the reconstruction of the Virginia & Truckee Railroad.

The Art Show will use all different types of media or mixed media and is open to artists that want to participate in any of the six or so categories that will be judged, such as oil painting, water color, photography, line drawing, or sculptures. The final list has not been decided but that will be determined soon. There will be a cash prize and/or ribbons for first through third place, a best of show award, and a people’s choice award. There will be a nominal entry fee and each artist will be limited to three pieces. All of the art entered in the show will be on display for one month at the Nevada State Library, 100 North Stewart Street, Carson City, Nevada, and will be featured in a catalog displaying the entries which can be sold from the catalog or from the website we will set up later.

The timing of the show will be the last two weeks of July and the first two weeks of August to take advantage of the visitors who will be in town for the Reno Art Festival and Hot August Nights and they in turn will benefit from visitors who come for the Railroad Reflections.

There is still a lot of work and planning to be done: we need to design a logo for the Art Expo, design collectible posters for the event, come up with a marketing and promotion strategy, and find ways to deal with the dozens of details that remain. The first show is planned for 2008 and we hope to see all of you in Carson City for the Railroad Reflections International Art Expo!

If you or someone you know is a rail art person and would like to participate, please let us know. We will keep you posted as this progresses. The Carson City Convention and Visitors Authority has budgeted $80,000 to assist in this effort; however, that is only part of the cost and sponsorships are being sought from groups and individuals. All persons donating $100 or more will be listed in the program. For more information call (775) 885-6833 or email at info@steamtrain.org. This is the Foundation’s largest fundraiser ever conducted and will be an annual event. Get aboard!