Line By Line | An homage to freight graffiti

ArtsReview
Written By Nick Gervin

At a railroad crossing, the world pauses. A freight train roars past, a fleeting gallery of vibrant graffiti streaking by in a blur on each boxcar. This kinetic art form, often seen but rarely studied, is the heart of Notch8 Gallery's new exhibition, "Line By Line – An Homage to Freight Graffiti." The show pulls these powerful, temporary artworks from their iron horses and presents them for the closer look they've always deserved.

Photographer: Shawn Averitt

Co-curated by Notch8 owner Sharon Dennehy and artist VEG, the exhibition is a powerful and thoughtful tribute to an often-overlooked art form. Featuring 33 graffiti artists and several documentary photographers from across the country, the show presents a diverse range of works on canvases, found railroad signs, model rail cars, and even U.S. postal stickers. The pieces are both a celebration of the art form and a window into the American history and subculture of freight train graffiti.

You may not know the real names of the artists in the show, as many prefer to go by their distinctive monikers such as ICHABOD, MYTH, and LACK, to list just a few. However, don’t let these nom de plumes fool you into thinking they are not deeply serious and committed to their craft. Several of these artists have been painting for over 30+ years, often risking their life, liberty, and limb in the pursuit of creating impactful public art.

Notch8 Gallery, located at 52 Center St. in downtown Portland, has quickly become a must-visit destination for those who appreciate original, nonconformist art. Sharon Dennehy, with her straightforward, no-nonsense curatorial approach, has brought a fresh and much-needed perspective to Portland's art scene since opening the gallery in 2022. She explains what compelled her to put together this exhibition:

"When I first noticed freight trains with graffiti I was mesmerized by being able to see a rolling art gallery on a huge thundering machine. The sense of transience: that you may never have that exact same experience again. It was all so fascinating. Then in 2013, I had the privilege of hosting Steel Wheels, The International Graffiti Train Show and working with some of the best in the business. My respect and passion for freight graffiti just continued growing from there. VEG and I came up with the concept for this exhibit and, as we began curating, things just seemed to take on a life of their own. I realized we were doing something really exciting. I think I felt that in some small way I was able to give back to the people and the culture that had given so much to me.”

Photographer: Nick Gervin

Giclee print on archival Epson paper, mounted on foam core

Photographer: Nick Gervin

Giclee print on archival Epson paper, mounted on foam core

A center feature of the exhibition showcases panoramic photographs by Nick Gervin and O Scale model train cars painted by various artists.

Co-curator VEG highlights the exhibition’s goal of being representative rather than comprehensive, noting,

“Sharon and I had bounced around ideas for a graffiti-related show for close to a year, we ended up scoping it to a freight-themed show since it’s a niche for which we both have a particular affinity. It’s impossible to create a single show that is comprehensive of all freight history and culture, so we tried to keep it representative, including a spectrum of graffiti as well as freight riding, which can’t be excluded when talking about the history. The selection of artists was guided by that concept of representation, the artists spanned across generations, genders, and geographic locations. We were able to pull together artists from all four corners of the United States and in between. The idea was to get together folks that were all good artists, good people, and had dedicated a lot of time to their endeavors”.

Artists: Myth and Aerub

Painted O Scale model train car

Artist: Ichabod

Tittled: Coalie

Spray paint and mixed media on canvas

Artist: Mike Rich

Titled: 2Rich

Enamel and Acrylic on yellow toxic placard

Speaking of dedication, few can hold a torch up to the prolific artist who goes by ICHABOD. As one of the most-up writers on the rails with over 7,000 painted trains, he perfectly sums up the unique allure of the medium:

“In what other medium can you make a painting, walk away from it, and have it roll by you on wheels ten years later and three thousand miles away? It’s happened to me multiple times, at random. Your art goes on tour after you paint it. That never gets old. You can’t get that from painting a wall.” He adds that the railroads of North America “probably don’t think of it this way, but they have custody of the biggest collection of contemporary art in the world.”

For some artists, like Mike Rich, who first picked up a spray can in 1985, this art form has evolved from a passion into a career. Rich, who has painted thousands of commissioned murals for clients like A&E Network, NBC Sports, and rapper Killer Mike, credits his mastery of graffiti for influencing his commercial work. He says it-

“takes me out of my comfort zone and forces me to try techniques and subject matter I wouldn’t normally paint.”

For many Maine art patrons, graffiti may feel unfamiliar, but opportunities like the "Line By Line" exhibition invite the public to explore this elusive art form. By giving us the chance to look closely and learn about the dedication and skill behind these works, the exhibition broadens our appreciation for the diverse forms of artistic expression in our community.

Photographer: Nick Gervin

Giclee print on archival Epson paper, mounted on foam core

Photographer: Nick Gervin

Giclee print on archival Epson paper, mounted on foam core

Artist: Lack

Tittled: Lysol

Acrylic and watercolor on panel

Photographer: SomedayWhenThingsAreBetter

Photos printed on metal

Artist: Ryan Adams

Titled: Every Step Counts

Spray paint and acrylic on wood panel

Notch8 Gallery

52 Center St. Portland, ME.

Hours: Thurs-Sat (2p - 6p) or by appt. (207)358-9433

Show runs until August 16th, 2025.

Featured artists:

AERUB, ARSN, BASER, BLIEF, BRIE, EFYOU, EM, HOPE4, ICHABOD, JURNE, LACK, LEARN, LESN, MYTH, POEST, RICH, Ryan Adams, SBONE, SHEVA, SMAE, SPEK, TEX GOTH, The Solo Artist, VEG, VEMO, VISM, WHEN, WRITE

Photographers:

BewareTheBull, Nick Gervin, SomedayWhenThingsAreBetter, Photaurs, Shawn Averitt

Interested in learning more about freight train graffiti? Check out these links:

Nick Gervin http://nickgervin.com