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Image for event: THROUGH TOIL AND LABOR:

THROUGH TOIL AND LABOR:

THE FORGOTTEN HISTORY OF UTAH'S CHINESE RAILROAD WORKERS

2019-07-03 19:00:00 2019-07-03 20:30:00 America/Denver THROUGH TOIL AND LABOR: Art Reception Anderson-Foothill Branch - Meeting Room

Wednesday, July 03
7:00pm - 8:30pm

Add to Calendar 2019-07-03 19:00:00 2019-07-03 20:30:00 America/Denver THROUGH TOIL AND LABOR: Art Reception Anderson-Foothill Branch - Meeting Room

Art Reception

Exhibit runs from July 3—August 1

ARTIST STATEMENT

Through Toil and Labor: The Forgotten History of Utah’s Chinese Railroad Workers will provide insight to the daily lives and culture of these laborers as they brought the Central Pacific railroad over the Sierra Nevada mountains and across the Great Basin desert. 

With the ceremonial completion of the United States’ first Transcontinental Railroad on May 10, 1869, the nation entered a new age of commerce and travel. The momentous meeting of the rails at Promontory Summit, Utah, meant goods and services could now move across the country in quantities and at speeds previously unknown. Key to this massive effort to connect the nation were the contributions of thousands of immigrant workers from around the globe.

Chinese immigrants composed over 75 percent of the Transcontinental Railroad workforce between 1865 and 1869, numbering more than 11,000 by its completion. These Chinese laborers, mostly young men ages 15-25, left their families and homes in China to seek new economic opportunities. The contributions of these Chinese railroad workers to Utah and the United States are slowly becoming better known.

Through photographs, historical documents, and excavated fragments of imported Chinese ceramics, this exhibition shows the unique history of the Transcontinental Railroad’s Chinese workers in Utah and share what’s been learned from the artifacts they left behind.

ARTIST BIO

Utah Arts & Museums seeks to advance the quality of life for all through arts and museum experiences and cultural opportunities. The Division provides more than 500 outreach services, including arts education, professional development, exhibitions, community outreach, and direct matching grants to schools, local arts agencies, organizations, community centers, performing groups, museums, and individuals across Utah.

The Division acts as a state coordinator and advisor on topics of importance to arts and museums communities. The Division also manages the state’s art assets for fine art, folk art, public art, and traveling exhibitions, reaching every county in the state. Utah Arts & Museums is the primary agency in Utah that distributes state and federal funds to stimulate and encourage growth in the creative industries. The funds are appropriated directly for arts and museums by both the Utah State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts. We are a division of the Department of Heritage and Arts (DHA), within the state government of Utah, responsible for the promotion of the arts and Utah museums. We include the Arts & Culture Business Alliance, Utah Office of Museum Services Board and the Utah Arts Council Board. Our goals are to:

  • Promote the value and impact of our cultural community
  • Ensure access, inclusion, diversity and equity
  • Foster sustainable organizations that support community needs
  • Serve as a statewide resource hub
  • Align the organization to fulfill our vision
  • Communicate agency identity

The Utah Division of Arts & Museums is a state agency involved in public funding for arts and museums. As a public entity, it reserves the right to make final decisions on the use of public funds for projects, programs, acquisitions, commissions, or other activities as deemed appropriate by the Division and/or Board.

AGE GROUP: | All Ages |

EVENT TYPE: | Arts & Creativity |

Anderson-Foothill Branch

Phone: 801-594-8611

Hours
Mon, Mar 25 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Tue, Mar 26 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Wed, Mar 27 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Thu, Mar 28 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Fri, Mar 29 10:00AM to 6:00PM
Sat, Mar 30 10:00AM to 6:00PM
Sun, Mar 31 Closed

About the branch

The pleasing design of the Anderson-Foothill Branch has two unique elements as part of its plan. The first is a passive solar energy design that includes earth berming, window placement for solar heating, and zone supplemental heating/cooling. The second element of this 14,900 square foot community library built in 1985, expanded in 1992 and in 2002, is a modular design.

The Anderson-Foothill Branch has a meeting room available for public use with tables, chairs, and a projector screen. The Anderson-Foothill Branch's outdoor amphitheater is a popular location for summer concerts. Free parking is available to the north and south of the building, and free wi-fi access is provided throughout the library.

Upcoming events

Tue, Apr 02, 10:15am - 10:45am
Meeting Room

Tue, Apr 02, 11:00am - 11:30am
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Tue, Apr 02, 11:00am - 11:30am

Wed, Apr 03, 10:15am - 10:45am
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Wed, Apr 03, 11:00am - 11:45am
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Thu, Apr 04, 4:00pm - 4:45pm
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Sat, Apr 06, 11:00am - 11:45am
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Tue, Apr 09, 10:15am - 10:45am
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Tue, Apr 09, 11:00am - 11:30am
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Tue, Apr 09, 4:00pm - 4:45pm
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Wed, Apr 10, 10:15am - 10:45am
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Wed, Apr 10, 11:00am - 11:45am
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Thu, Apr 11, 4:00pm - 4:45pm
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Mon, Apr 15, 5:30pm - 6:15pm
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Tue, Apr 16, 10:15am - 10:45am
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Tue, Apr 16, 11:00am - 11:30am
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Wed, Apr 17, 10:15am - 10:45am
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Wed, Apr 17, 11:00am - 11:45am
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Thu, Apr 18, 4:00pm - 4:45pm
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Sat, Apr 20, 11:00am - 11:45am
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Tue, Apr 23, 10:15am - 10:45am
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Tue, Apr 23, 11:00am - 11:30am
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Wed, Apr 24, 10:15am - 10:45am
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Wed, Apr 24, 11:00am - 11:45am
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Thu, Apr 25, 4:00pm - 4:45pm
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