ART ON THE RAILS
A Master Painting Class by Rail from Chicago to the Rockies and Glacier National Park

"The American West is one of the primal places of our collective imagination. The idea of The West remains unobtainable, which may be why each subsequent generation of artist feels compelled to explore the vastness of this landscape which is a true and unique American subject. Imagine then, traveling on the bands of steel which bind the land together, segueing from city into the primeval landscape, where we will surround ourselves with the elemental shapes of rock, water and forest and confront the reason for all painting: a human response to a new experience of space. In the summer light, the landscape takes on a novelistic quality and becomes an integral character in the unfolding story on our canvas." - Eric Aho

Join Eric Aho on a journey to the heart of the Montana Rockies and Glacier National Park in summer 2008. The group will be intimate in size (nine painters, with a limited number of non-painter companions welcome) and adventurous in spirit: a group with a strong desire to paint, tempered with a sense of discovery and fun.

We will travel overland on the storied Empire Builder, north and west from Chicago, ever westward through the Badlands of North Dakota and the big sky country of Montana. Our destination for five nights: The Izaak Walton Inn located in the very heart of the Rockies. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, The Izaak Walton Inn was built in 1939 by the Great Northern Railroad to house winter snow removal crews. Located in the midst of "A Million Acres of Wilderness" the inn features an inviting wood-timbered lobby with fieldstone fireplace, an excellent restaurant and pub, free wi-fi in the lounge and outstanding recreational opportunities - hiking, biking, fly-fishing, 1930’s vintage "Jammer" bus tours, horseback riding and more.

Leader Eric Aho is renowned for the relaxed, engaging approach he brings to master classes, one where a sense of discovery is partnered with exhilaration and observation. The small group size will allow optimal interaction and one-on-one educational opportunities. Assisting him is Charlie Hunter whose fondness for rail travel and painting makes such a journey a natural fit.

This class is presented in conjunction with the Great River Arts Institute, a non-profit arts education organization located in Bellows Falls, Vermont. GRAI offers a full schedule of master classes and workshops for adults. GRAI also offers a school outreach program for area youth and runs a summer art camp.

For reservations, contact Sarah Ovenden at trains@sover.net, or by telephone at 802-258-1397 (toll-free in North America at 866-484-3669). Fax is 802-463-3677.

Tuesday, July 22: Gather in the grand concourse of Chicago Union Station for pre-boarding of Amtrak’s flagship EMPIRE BUILDER. Depart 2:15 pm. Sleeping car accommodations and all meals on board provided.

Wednesday, July 23: Awake as we cross North Dakota, entering Montana late morning. Enjoy the magnificent vistas in the Sightseer Lounge car, arriving Essex, Montana after dinner. We will be met at the station by Inn personnel, who will see us to our accommodations.

Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday: These are our days for painting; up with the morning mists, in with the setting sun. In the evening, relaxing by a crackling fire, or for the adventurous, the challenging pleasures of the Sauna. There is a full range of optional activities for the non-painters among us (and painters desiring to play hooky): guided fly-fishing, hiking, mountain bike rentals, vintage Jammer bus tours along the Going-to-the-Sun Highway and white water rafting are but a few options.

Monday, July 28: At 8:55 am we re-board the EMPIRE BUILDER and enjoy the stunning crossing of the Continental Divide at Marias Pass over breakfast. The mountains give way to the vastness of the plains, the talk turns to art accomplished, and art yet to be created. Lunch and dinner in the diner, relaxing over drinks and conversation in the lounge.

Tuesday, July 29: Mid-afternoon arrival in Chicago. Connections to trains for the east are available.

ERIC AHO

Eric Aho's paintings have been included in numerous one person and group exhibitions including Reeves Contemporary in New York City; the Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art in Ridgefield, Connecticut; the Fleming Art Museum at the University of Vermont; the Art Museum, Oulu, Finland; the Fitchburg Art Museum in Fitchburg, Massachusetts; the Hood Museum of Art at Dartmouth College and the Philadelphia Art Alliance. Eric studied at the Central School of Art and Design in London and received a BFA from the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston.

CHARLIE HUNTER

www.Hunter-Studio.com

Charlie Hunter’s work was the subject of a one-man show, WINDSOR POST-PASTORAL, at the American Precision Museum in 2007. In addition to painting decaying American Infrastructure, Hunter is Supreme Commander of Roots on the Rails, North America's moving music festival. Hunter graduated with a BFA in Art from Yale, where he studied with William Bailey, Vincent Scully, Alvin Eisenman and Bob Reed. Hunter maintains a studio in Bellows Falls, VT and shows at galleries in the Northeast.

TUITION

$3129.00 USD per painter. Tuition includes two nights of shared sleeping car accommodations (Superliner "roomette") on the EMPIRE BUILDER from Chicago to Essex, Montana and return, shared accommodations at the Izaak Walton Inn for five nights (Red Caboose or Great Northern Room), all meals on board train.

Single occupancy supplement $969.00 USD provides single occupancy of sleeping car room (Superliner "roomette") and hotel room (Great Northern Room).

Deluxe supplement $1,279.00 additional (for one or two) provides Superliner "bedroom" accommodation with own facilities and considerably more floor space than "roomettes".

Non Painters: Companions or friends wishing to join us are welcome at $1889.00 USD per person (does not include painting activities). Couples will be given Superliner standard two-person roomette accommodations.

Participants are responsible for travel costs to/from Chicago. $300.00 USD per person non-refundable deposit by credit card required to hold space. 2% discount on total price if you provide us with monthly postdated checks, sent at time of sign-up. Payments outside of deposit are refundable until 60 days prior to departure. Reservations are transferable. Trip is limited to 9 painters (20 human beings maximum total). Liability release signature required.

Packing for the Trip: Detailed packing instructions (painting gear, canvases, etc) will be provided well prior to the trip. Each passenger may bring aboard no more than two pieces of carry-on baggage (not including personal items such as briefcases, purses and laptops), neither piece to weigh more than 50 lbs. We strongly suggest shipping painting gear ahead by UPS or FedEx Ground prior to the trip (and return), and will provide instructions for so doing. Checked baggage is not available on Amtrak to or from Essex, Montana and storage space within sleeping car rooms is extremely limited.

The Fine Print:
The payment of a deposit or any part or full payment for a reservation shall constitute consent to all the provisions contained herein. Flying Under Radar, LLC and Sawdust Promotions shall not be held responsible for property loss or damage and/or any damages resulting from illness, personal injuries or death which may be sustained by reason of, or while engaged on, any trip or tour whether due to the ownership, maintenance, use, operation or control of any vehicle, hotel, common carrier or any other conveyance used in carrying out these tours. We can assume no liability due to any cause whatsoever whether caused by failure or delay or other irregularity, acts or omissions occurring during a tour under which the means of transportation or other service thereby is offered or supplied by owners, operators or public carriers for whom Flying Under Radar, LLC acts only as agent. Flying Under Radar, LLC reserves the right (at its discretion) to alter or omit any part of the itinerary, or change any reservation, feature and/or means of conveyance without notice or for any reason whatsoever and without allowance or refund and with extra costs, if any, resulting therefrom paid by the passengers. Lineup subject to change. We reserve the right to cancel any tour prior to departure, in which case payment will be refunded without further obligation on our part. Flying Under Radar, LLC shall not be responsible for any injury to person (whether or not resulting in death) or damage to property. Flying Under Radar, LLC strongly urges individual passengers to obtain appropriate insurance coverage. Baggage is at the owner's risk entirely. The transportation companies concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time passengers are not aboard their carriers or conveyances. The passenger contract in use by the carriers concerned (when issued) shall constitute the sole contract between the transportation companies and the purchaser of these tours and/or passage. By accepting the ticket the passenger also agrees to its terms and conditions. By forwarding of deposit, the passenger certifies that he/she does not have any mental, physical or other condition or disability that would create a hazard for him/herself or other passengers. Flying Under Radar, LLC reserves the right to cancel or withdraw any person as a member of the tour at any time.