Stephen Mallon “Passing West”
Front Room Gallery is pleased to present, “Passing West” a solo exhibition of photographs by Stephen Mallon. “Passing West” is a continuation of Mallon’s “Passing Freight” series, a visual celebration of the unique beauty and function of freight train cars in United States. This series of photographs captures the still active rail lines that carry freight to destinations across the country. Mallon’s industrial landscape photographs isolate freight cars within this iconic transportation system, which has played a critical role in supply infrastructure across the continent for hundreds of years. The photos in “Passing West” are framed against the open plains, mountain ranges, and the salt flats— mostly taken during a residency at the Montello Foundation in 2020, in which Mallon travelled the countryside of Utah and Nevada.
Stephen Mallon, “Locomotive UP4622” Wendover, UT (available as 10”x30, ed. 10 $1050, 15”x45”, ed. 10 $2100, 20”x60”, ed.10 $3000 PURCHASE
Poised against the rugged western landscape Mallon’s photographs of train cars often appear to carry the weight of the mountains themselves. Whether they are covered in graffitti or smartly displaying the rail lines iconic logos, each of these cars are brimming with it’s own individual personality. In one “Hopper” car, the tan car stands in front of the dusty desert mountains, and on it graffitti states “confront my toxic masculinty”. Another car, a yellow caboose with the crimson “Union Pacific” logo on it, would be as comfortable in an episode of “Thomas the Tank Engine” as on the set of “East of Eden”. Some of the open Box cars actually frame the mountains and flats themselves with their rectilinear shapes.
Stephen Mallon, “Gondola MP 64282” Wendover, UT (available as 10”x30, ed. 10 $1050, 15”x45”, ed. 10 $2100, 20”x60”, ed.10 $3000) PURCHASE
These trains are all moving, quite literally. And while they might appear to be stopped in the photograph, it is only for that split second as they pass Stephen Mallon, his camera, and his tripod. Mallon’s procedure involves many elements including the perfect location, light, the individual personality of each car, the trickiness of getting exactly the right moment, and patience. The intersection of mechanical and natural worlds, singular encounters where the trains activate the landscape are hard to predict.
Stephen Mallon, “Boxcar WP 3819” Grantsville, UT (available as 10”x30, ed. 10 $1050, 15”x45”, ed. 10 $2100, 20”x60”, ed.10 $3000) PURCHASE
Stephen Mallon, “Centerbeam IC 977138” Cajon Junction, CA (available as 10”x30, ed. 10 $1050, 15”x45”, ed. 10 $2100, 20”x60”, ed.10 $3000) PURCHASE
Stephen Mallon, “Caboose UP 25807” Great Salt Lake, UT (available as 10”x30, ed. 10 $1050, 15”x45”, ed. 10 $2100, 20”x60”, ed.10 $3000) PURCHASE
Stephen Mallon, “Boxcar TR 100312” Montello, NV (available as 10”x30, ed. 10 $1050, 15”x45”, ed. 10 $2100, 20”x60”, ed.10 $3000) PURCHASE
Stephen Mallon, “Centerbeam Flatcar TTZX” Montello, NV (available as 10”x30, ed. 10 $1050, 15”x45”, ed. 10 $2100, 20”x60”, ed.10 $3000) PURCHASE
Stephen Mallon, “Gondola w1082” Great Salt Lake, UT (available as 10”x30, ed. 10 $1050, 15”x45”, ed. 10 $2100, 20”x60”, ed.10 $3000) PURCHASE
Stephen Mallon, “Gondola MP 641221” Toano, NV (available as 10”x30, ed. 10 $1050, 15”x45”, ed. 10 $2100, 20”x60”, ed.10 $3000) PURCHASE
Stephen Mallon, “Gondola UP 998019” Great Salt Lake, UT (available as 10”x30, ed. 10 $1050, 15”x45”, ed. 10 $2100, 20”x60”, ed.10 $3000) PURCHASE
Stephen Mallon, “Hopper CMO 21366” Echo, UT (available as 10”x30, ed. 10 $1050, 15”x45”, ed. 10 $2100, 20”x60”, ed.10 $3000) PURCHASE
Stephen Mallon, “Hopper TILX 48177” Arnold’s Loop, Montello, NV (available as 10”x30, ed. 10 $1050, 15”x45”, ed. 10 $2100, 20”x60”, ed.10 $3000) PURCHASE
Stephen Mallon, “Tank Car TILX 400279” Toano, NV (available as 10”x30, ed. 10 $1050, 15”x45”, ed. 10 $2100, 20”x60”, ed.10 $3000) PURCHASE
TAKE A SELF-GUIDED VIRTUAL TOUR OF THE EXHIBITION
Video Walkthrough of “Passing West”
About Stephen Mallon
“Passing West” Checklist, availability listing
IMAGES AND AVAILABILITY FROM “PASSING FREIGHT”
