Re: Art vs.historic record

John Coker wrote: "Link took it all a giant step further by showing something more- how a railroad interacted with its environment. Link took one railroad in a specific region and covered it a very unique way. A fine legacy of a specific historic record was elevated to an art form in Link's work, and art critics agree. As an artist, I would find it difficult to improve on an O.Winston Link photograph."
Having just visited the O. Winston Link Museum, in Roanoke, a week ago, I think John has pretty much pegged it. Link was interested in the trains, but he was more interested in the people, the culture and the environment that the trains ran through. In many of his most evocative photos, the train is just a small, albeit essential, element in the background. Of course, there are other photos where the train dominates, but usually there is a person in the scene that draws the viewer in.
If anyone gets within a half day drive of Roanoke, they owe it to themselves to visit the museum. Although a goodly number of the photos have appeared in Link's books, seeing them as large prints is just breath taking. Hearing his recordings playing in the background, seeing his equipment and watching the excellent movie on his career were added pluses. There are some truly excellent interactive displays and some clips from his 16mm color movies that play on monitors. I only had 2 hours to spend and would have liked another 2. N&W 1218 and 611 are on display a few blocks down the street at the Virginia Transportation Museum too.
Michael Allen