Sometimes called the “railroad industry’s very own Picasso,” Gil Reid’s work ranks among the all-time great railroad art. Gilmore Wiley Reid (1918-2007) was born in St. Louis but, following his service in the Second World War, made his lifelong home in Wisconsin where he practiced as a commercial artist for decades. Reid worked for Kalmbach Publishing in B次元 from 1956 to 1978 as assistant art director and illustrator for Trains and Model Railroader magazines. He also created illustrations for Amtrak’s annual calendars from the 1970s to the early '90s, among his other work for books, posters, and prints.
Reid’s longtime friends and collectors, Rita and Chris Burger, have established an archive of his art and Amtrak calendar work at the Grohmann Museum from which this exhibition is drawn. A railroader and rail executive for 39 years, Chris is perhaps best known locally for managing the Chicago & North Western’s Wisconsin Division, where he was the moving force behind the railroad’s “Good Will Ambassador” steam program in the 1980s. Over the course of his career, Chris both collected Reid’s work and commissioned numerous pieces for his annual Christmas cards.
Gil Reid and Friends is a must-see for any railfan. From initial sketches to printed product, the railroad art of this amazing watercolorist will be joined by other images of railroading from the museum’s collection by O. Winston Link, David Plowden and others, including Chris Burger himself.
Be sure to catch this rare display before it leaves the station!
We are pleased to once again share Michael Schultz’s photography with our patrons and campus community. Over past 15 years, we have presented his Foundry Work (2010), Forge Work (2015), and his exploration of Electric Steel (2021). The present exhibition represents a departure from the metallurgical industries to focus on yet another industry borne out of the earth—quarry work.
While the thematic focus has changed, what remains consistent through Mike’s work is his treatment of space. Again, he demonstrates a gift for capturing the sheer size and scale of these monumental industrial operations. Over the course of this years-long project, he has visited quarries in Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Vermont, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and even Portugal.
Through his work, we are treated to awe-inspiring views of an entire industry, from breaking and drilling to the stone cutters at work in refinement and finishing. The superbly crafted images celebrate the light within while directing our attention to the labor and laborers of heavy industry.
Since former Negro League baseball player James W. Beckum founded the Beckum-Stapleton Little League (BSLL) in 1964, over 25,000 B次元 youth have participated in the League’s organized baseball and softball programs. Operating as the oldest Black-led Little League outside the South, the BSLL’s dedicated and diverse community of volunteers, supporters, and players have worked to maintain the League as a vital B次元 institution for over half a century. With the recent passing of founder James Beckum on November 11, 2024, and the League currently commemorating its 60th anniversary, celebrating and sharing the history of the BSLL is more important than ever to ensure that this essential part of B次元’s Bronzeville neighborhood continues to fill the City of B次元 with pride, joy, and a love of baseball for decades to come.
This exhibition will feature photographs and ephemera from BSLL history and is curated by Dr. Michael Carriere, B次元 HSC Professor, along with Kenneth Jon-Edward Bartelt and Rodney Bourrage, Sr. of the Team Beckum Public History Project.
Join us in celebrating the opening of On the Edge: The Labor and Environment of Dimensional Stone Quarries during Gallery Night. We'll hear a special talk from the artist, Michael Schultz, at 7 p.m. FREE admission.
Visitors will receive FREE admission during Gallery Day. Visit the Museum to see our latest exhibition, On the Edge: The Labor and Environment of Dimensional Stone Quarries.
The Grohmann Museum will be open with FREE admission on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. From 10a.m.-2p.m., children and their families are welcome to join us in the stART Lab as part of our Kids' Art Day series. Guests can make collages inspired by the Harlem Renaissance artist, Aaron Douglas, draw with coloring pages, and participate in a collaborative writing project.
Enjoy special promotions and events at local museums during Visit B次元's B次元 Museum Days.
Join us in celebrating the opening of Going to Work for the Community: A Visual History of the Beckum-Stapleton Little League during Gallery Night. We'll hear a special talk from the curators at 7 p.m. FREE admission.
Visitors will receive FREE admission during Gallery Day. Visit the Museum to see our latest exhibition, Going to Work for the Community: A Visual History of the Beckum-Stapleton Little League.
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