Mark Priest: Laborers of the Railroad and

Artifacts from the California State Railroad

Museum, A California State Park

February 1 - March 26, 2005


Mark Priest worked as a railroad laborer for almost ten years, prior to studying painting and becoming an artist. His stories about the railroad are the driving narratives of his work. Priest’s paintings are strong in depicting life of the working classes – those who rely on their hands, and usually hard labor, to make a living. Beautiful, vibrantly colorful and larger-than life, Priest paintings share an aspect of labor not frequently seen or discussed.

Complementing Priest’s paintings is an exhibit of photographs and artifacts from the California State Railroad Museum. The exhibit presents a visual experience that places Priest’s paintings within a historical context. Priest’s workers, contemporary in nature, have their foundation in the Pullman porters, laborers, tracklayers, locomotive firemen, car stewards and kitchen crews shown depicted in the photographs.

A 36-page catalogue is available for purchase.

Click here for a press release.

(Top)
Mark Priest
Powdered Steel, 1994
acrylic on canvas
Collection of the artist

(Bottom)
Dan Erb, photographer, Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe Railway
Track crew leveling the rails, c. 1960's
oil on canvas
Courtesy California State Railroad Museum