With Gratitude...

(posted by Paula Scott of Molokai Girl Studio)

The opening reception for the Rail Yard Exhibit last Thursday exceeded my expectations. I am grateful to all who came. For many, this was the first time they had seen images of the Albuquerque Rail Yard. And, it was a thrill for all of us who participated in the show to be able to hand over a check to the Wheels Museum for nearly $700.00. Thank you to everyone who participated in this show: members of the Enchanted Lens Camera Club, the Albuquerque/Santa Fe Flickr Photo Group, and the invited guests. It was because of your participation that enabled us to hand over this check to the Wheels Museum!

Any of the work that sells during this exhibit will enable us to hand over another check to the Wheels Museum at the close of the show. I doubt that the public will have a chance like this again to purchase images like this-where you can choose from a collection of stunning images of the Rail Yard.

(opening night of the Rail Yard Exhibit)

I had stopped by today to see the work without distractions or interruptions as I really didn't get that chance to do so the other night (understandably so). I also read some of the comments in the guest book and was totally blown away by a guest that wrote that he had worked there:

(comments from the guest book)

It's the third line up from the bottom. I can't tell what the first name is-if it is a woman's name or a man's name. It says, "Worked in the place...takes me back." It is AMAZING that to have someone who worked there sign the guest book. Wow. I hope we get more like that!

A really big thanks to Marc Guiterrez who is the administrator and creator of the Albuquerque/Santa Fe Flickr Group. He was my partner in all of this and I never would have attempted this project without him. And, a special thanks to Tim Anderson who not only helped us navigate the jurying process smoothly, but also was a juror for the show.

Another big thank you to Augustine Romero, who is the curator for the community galleries for the City of Albuquerque. It was through dialoging with him about this show concept and his encouragement to submit the proposal that has made all the difference in the world.

And, last, but not least, to Leba Freed who has been like the Joan of Arc to the Rail Yard. I hope you consider helping out with the cause by way of a donation to the Wheels Museum or becoming a volunteer or a member, or any kind of help. Buy some tickets to their fundraiser on Nov. 12-it will be held at the Wheels Museum which is on the Rail Yard property. If you can't buy tickets and want to help with the fundraiser, they could use some volunteers and donations for the silent auction.

I hope to see you at the Wheels Fundraiser on Nov. 12th!!!

My first.

If you live in Albuquerque and own a camera, you've probably heard about the mysterious Abq. railyards. I started seriously pursuing my photography in 2006 and it wasn't long after I had purchased my first dSLR and began to go out and shoot I stumbled across some images and accounts from visits to the railyards. I was intrigued, but I didn't know how or where or when. The railyards came and went every so often when I would come across a new image from a flickr friend, or a discussion of how to break in or sneak through without anyone noticing. I always seemed to have something else going on so for those first 4 yrs I admired from afar.



Finally, in April of 2010, I got the chance to go to the railyards as part of a group from the ELCC. I had a good friend in town visiting that came along. We both worried when we arrived and saw the 40-50 people waiting to enter that it was going to be impossible to share the space with everyone. As soon as we walked in, I realized we could have had double that and still had no problems. The space is immense, and oh so beautiful. We walked all around and always seemed to find a new corner that begged to be photographed. The light was continually changing and creating new views, and by the time the 4 hrs. were up, I had taken somewhere around 450 images. I haven't been back since, but I know that there are endless other shots still awaiting the photographer in there.

I am excited for the show and to see all the different interpretations of the railyards, but also for the greater goal that the show is helping, which is the redevelopment of the railyards and opening of the WHEELS museum. I hope we can all do our part to help this along, and I'm really looking forward to what will be a great show with strong sales! There are few places, especially man-made ones, in my opinion, that inspire and promote such creative thinking and motivate a photographer by place alone. This is one of them.