The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art in Altoona will host two photography exhibitions April 19-July 7.

“Passing Freight” is a solo exhibit featuring freight train cars in the United States by artist Stephen Mallon. Mallon’s photographs “capture the grandeur of the human capacity to achieve immensely complicated engineering feats by revealing the subtle yet intricate beauty of rail cars passing across the American landscape,” according to a news release.

“Contours: Land, Rail, Rau” takes viewers on a photographic journey across the elegant industrial sprawl of the Pennsylvania Railroad during the height of its operation featuring the photographs of William H. Rau. Rau served as the official photographer of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and captured a broad range of scenes with the fine details found along the landscape of the Pennsylvania Railroad. The exhibit is guest curated by Julie Rockwell, archivist of the East Broad Top Railroad.

An opening reception will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. April 27.

Courtesy photo /
Stephen Mallon’s photos will be part of the upcoming “Passing Freight” exhibit at SAMA Altoona.

The cost to attend is a minimum donation of $10 or more. Live music will be provided by Fair Winds II, a flute and bassoon duo from State College, which will play a varied program including classical selections, fiddle tunes, waltzes, ragtime and several railroad tunes.

“By placing these two exhibitions in dialogue with each other, we hope to stimulate a conversation about the industrial legacy that built Altoona, how that legacy unfolds today, and, perhaps, even, what it might mean for our city’s future,” stated Altoona Site Director Dante DiAndrea.