The Center for Railroad Photography & Art (CRP&A) along with the Grohmann Museum present the first public exhibition of Kalmbach Media’s historic art collection. Totaling fifty-five original paintings and drawings, it is a pillar of rail—themed art filled with landmark works from Howard Fogg, George Gloff, Gil Reid, Ted Rose, John Swatsley, and many others. Tens of thousands of railroad enthusiasts have viewed these paintings thanks to their use in Kalmbach publications including Trains magazine or and best-selling books such as The Hiawatha Story and The Nickel Plate Story.
The exhibition celebrates the importance of imagery in Kalmbach’s printed materials and the company’s collaborations with artists. Strong bonds formed between the company’s editorial staff and the artists they hired or commissioned; they helped each other. Artwork brought publications to life while words added context and meaning to the paintings. This pairing of images and words created decades of memorable stories for railroad enthusiasts. Kevin P. Keefe, a CRP&A board member and former vice president-editorial at Kalmbach Media said, “In so many ways, Trains and Kalmbach Books played indispensable roles in creating the world of railroad imagery we love so much, and the company’s original art is a big part of that legacy.”
Join us for the opening reception, May 16 from 5-8 p.m., featuring a Gallery Talk by Kevin Keefe at 6 p.m.