HOME

GALLERY

ARTISTS

FRAMING

LINKS

Cantrell Gallery - “Where a lot of great artists hang around!”

Cantrell Gallery features art by over 30 established and emerging local/regional artists.  In our large gallery space, we feature special exhibits that run about 7 weeks.  We have at least 6 exhibits each year, each of which feature; either one of our artists that we regularly represent, or it might be a group show.  Each exhibit opens with a reception, which is open to the public, is free, and you can generally expect to meet the artist(s).

We also carry art by nationally and internationally known artists, such as: Dali, Boulanger, Alvar, G.Harvey and Rockwell.

 Everything from prints to original works of art, including three-dimensional pieces and gift items.

What’s a giclee’ print…
When is a print an original?…
Which gallery/custom frame shop has been around for over 40 years?

… You’ve got the questions – we’ve got the answers… Come by soon!

We have an Opening Night reception for each new exhibit, in the evening on the first date of the show, from 6-8:00 pm,
*unless otherwise noted.

Schedule of events - 2012

January 13 - March 3................................."Cinematic Rails - Trains in the Movies" photographs by J.P. Bell

March 9 - April 28......................................"STRUCTURES", churches, gins and other Delta scenes in by Daniel Coston

May 6 - June 23.........................................The Mid-Southern Watercolorists Open Membership Exhibit

Cantrell Gallery Hosts “Cinematic Rails: Trains in the Movies” a Premier Exhibit of

Photographs by J.P. Bell of Fort Smith Arkansas

“Cinematic Rails: Trains in the Movies” is a photographic exhibit documenting the use of vintage trains in several movie productions over the past 30 years.  The collection features images from movies such as, True Grit, Biloxi Blues and Tuskegee Airmen and is accompanied by educational text describing the movie, locations, and dates of the filming.  See below for more information about the included movies.  Admission is free.

J. P. Bell lives and works in his birthplace of Fort Smith, Arkansas.  In 1957, as a child, J.P. and his family traveled by train from Arkansas to northern California on Santa Fe's, San Francisco Chief. From that time forward, railroads and the American landscape through which these trains passed captured his imagination.

            Bell has photographed professionally since 1987.   His photography has been included in fine art collections of banks, hospitals, corporate offices and private collections throughout the region. Since 1996, J.P. has photographed extensively for Bank of the Ozarks. His black and white prints are in the offices and lobbies not only of the headquarters of Bank of the Ozarks in Little Rock, but in branch offices throughout the bank's service area.

            Bell's photography and articles have appeared in Locomotive and Railway Preservation, Railfan and Railroad, the Arkansas Gazette, Arkansas Times, River magazine, National Geographic maps and Active Years.

            J. P. Bell’s recent book, published by Voyageur Press, is Steam Trains, A Modern View of Yesterday’s Railroads.  This 192-page book of 23 photo-essays gives the viewer a broad canvas of steam railroading across the U.S. and Canada.

“Cinematic Rails: Trains in the Movies” will continue through Saturday, March 3.  Gallery hours are Monday – Saturday, 10-5:00.  

Complete list of the six movies that are included in this exhibit:

True Grit, No, the Rocky Mountains Don’t Rise Outside of Fort Smith

Paramount Pictures and the Coen Brothers remade the western classic, True Grit in 2010. No, you won’t see the Rocky Mountains in the distance from Fort Smith, Arkansas in this movie as you did in the original True Grit starring John Wayne. This version of Trued Grit was filmed entirely in Texas and New Mexico.  Based on the novel written by Arkansas native, Charles Portis, this movie needed a steam train. In the book, Mattie Ross travels from Dardanelle, Arkansas to Fort Smith on the old Iron Mountain Railroad. The movie production company transformed the tiny town of Granger, Texas into Fort Smith, circa 1890. Dirt on the streets, false building fronts and period signage gave the appearance of the town called “Hell on the Border” at the eastern edge of Indian Territory. Movie extras in period clothing brought the set to life. Richard Grigsby’s steam train from the Reader Railroad provided the finishing touches of authenticity. The movie stars Jeff Bridges as Rooster Cogburn, Matt Damon as LaBouef, and Hallie Steinfeld as Mattie Ross. 2010. Color prints.

Appaloosa, A Tale of Two Men, One Woman, and A Steam Train

Based upon the Robert Parker novel of the same name, this movie starred Ed Harris, Viggo Mortenson, Renee Zwelleger, and Jeremy Irons. The movie used the steam train of Richard Grigsby’s Reader Railroad for one week in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Grigsby transported his movie train by truck over the highways rather than by rail. For three days, the train steamed out of Lamy, New Mexico to a set the movie company built on the Santa Fe Southern Railroad line. The train was then transported by truck to another set at the Ford Ranch in the high desert outside of Santa Fe. 2007. Color Digital Prints.

Truman, The Buck Stopped Here

This HBO movie about President Harry Truman is based upon David McCullough’s book of the same name. The movie starred Gary Sinese as Truman and the Frisco steam train, No. 1522 with a short train brought from the Museum of Transportation in St. Louis, Missouri. The movie filmed the train sequences in Weston, Missouri in 1996. Black and white prints.

Tuskegee Airmen, Return to the Old South in 1942

Tuskegee Airmen tells the story of the valiant squadron of African-American airmen who flew P-51 Mustangs during World War II. This movie, produced by HBO, was filmed in the Fort Smith area. Much of the flying was done out of Davis Field in Muskogee, Oklahoma. For the necessary train sequences, the former Frisco Railroad depot in Fort Smith, Arkansas became the scene for night shots using equipment of the Arkansas and Missouri Railroad. Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Lawrence Fishburne starred in this movie. 1995. Black and white prints.

Biloxi Blues, Lighting Compliments of Universal Studios

This group of prints explores the old Frisco Railroad between Fort Smith, Arkansas and Winslow, Arkansas during the making of the Mike Nichols motion picture, Biloxi Blues. The movie starred Matthew Broderick and Christopher Walken and was based on the Neil Simon play of the same name. 1987. Black and white prints.

Movie Magic on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad

This series of prints documents the making of a commercial for the Super Bowl football game of 1980. The production company used a snowplow and train of the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad in Chama, New Mexico in 1979. Black and white prints.