Skip to main content
close
Font size options
Increase or decrease the font size for this website by clicking on the 'A's.
Contrast options
Choose a color combination to give the most comfortable contrast.
Image for event: Tracing the Path: Art Reception

Tracing the Path: Art Reception

Chinese Railroad Workers and First Transcontinental Railroad

2019-02-19 19:00:00 2019-02-19 20:30:00 America/Denver Tracing the Path: Art Reception Photographs By Li Ju, Alfred Hart, & Andrew Russell. Exhibit runs from Feb 17–Mar 29 Main Library - Lower Urban Room

Tuesday, February 19
7:00pm - 8:30pm

Add to Calendar 2019-02-19 19:00:00 2019-02-19 20:30:00 America/Denver Tracing the Path: Art Reception Photographs By Li Ju, Alfred Hart, & Andrew Russell. Exhibit runs from Feb 17–Mar 29 Main Library - Lower Urban Room

Main Library

Lower Urban Room

Photographs By Li Ju, Alfred Hart, & Andrew Russell. Exhibit runs from Feb 17–Mar 29

ARTIST STATEMENT

Let these historic photos speak and tell the story of the Chinese Railroad Workers. With Beijing photographer, Li Ju’s shots with the exact location to guide us, travel back in time and trace the 150-year old footsteps of the Chinese pioneers. 

ARTIST BIO

About the Photographer Li Ju and His Work.

On May 10th, 1869, the First Transcontinental Railroad was completed. It was ahead of schedule. Thousands of hard-working Chinese laborers formed the main workforce for the Western half of the railroad. They had had the hardest parts of construction. Their route took them across higher mountains, deeper canyons, and harsher deserts. Yet for too many years, their stories went untold.

Two famous photographers went out to record the work on the Transcontinental Railroad.  Mr. Alfred Hart photographed the work from the West with the Central Pacific Railroad. Mr. Andrew J. Russel worked from the East with the Union Pacific Railroad.

More than 140 years later, a photographer from China was inspired by these men’s work. Mr. Ju Li came halfway across the world to travel in their footsteps. He made 8 trips trekking across mountains, canyons, and deserts to retrace their route.

After checking and rechecking every detail, Mr. Li found the exact spots where the first photos were taken. Li’s modern photos show us those same sites today.  The lenses of these 3 men captured the feeling of just how hard the workers’ lives, the land, and the challenges were in the 1860s. Now, we too feel those hardships. We see how rough and lonely these places were.

This display lets the photos speak. Here, they tell the story of the Chinese workers. With Li’s shots to guide us, let’s travel back in time. Let’s walk in the 150-year old footsteps of the Chinese pioneers.

AGE GROUP: | All Ages |

EVENT TYPE: | Arts & Creativity |

Main Library

Phone: 801-524-8200

Hours
Mon, Jul 28 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Tue, Jul 29 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Wed, Jul 30 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Thu, Jul 31 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Fri, Aug 01 10:00AM to 6:00PM
Sat, Aug 02 10:00AM to 6:00PM
Sun, Aug 03 11:00AM to 5:00PM

About the branch

NOTE: The Main Library's Rooftop Terrace is closed for renovations.

Salt Lake City's Main Library, designed by internationally-acclaimed architect Moshe Safdie in conjunction with VCBO Architecture, opened in February 2003 and remains one of the most architecturally unique structures in Utah. This striking 240,000 square-foot structure houses more than 500,000 books and other materials, yet serves as more than just a repository of books and computers. It reflects and engages the city's imagination and aspirations. The structure embraces a public plaza, with shops and services at ground level, reading galleries above, and a 300-seat auditorium.

A multi-level reading area along the Glass Lens at the southern facade of the building looks out onto the plaza with stunning views of the city and Wasatch Mountains beyond. Spiraling fireplaces on four floors resemble a column of flame from the vantage of 200 East and 400 South. The Urban Room between the Library and the Crescent Wall is a space for all seasons, generously endowed with daylight and open to magnificent views.

Upcoming events

Wed, Jul 30, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Craft Room

Thu, Jul 31, 6:30pm - 7:30pm

Fri, Aug 01, 4:00pm - 5:30pm
Creative Lab
This event is full

Sat, Aug 02, 10:00am - 2:00pm
Friends Used Book Sale Area

Sat, Aug 02, 10:15am - 10:45am
Story Room

Sat, Aug 02, 2:30pm - 4:00pm
Craft Room

Sat, Aug 02, 3:30pm - 5:30pm
Creative Lab

Sun, Aug 03, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Story Room

Sun, Aug 03, 3:00pm - 4:30pm
Level 2 Conference Room

Sun, Aug 03, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Creative Lab
This event is full

Mon, Aug 04, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Story Room

Tue, Aug 05, 10:15am - 11:00am
Story Room

Tue, Aug 05, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Level 3 Conference Room

Thu, Aug 07, 4:00pm - 5:00pm

Thu, Aug 07, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Rooftop Terrace

Fri, Aug 08, 4:00pm - 5:30pm
Creative Lab
This event is full

Sat, Aug 09, 10:15am - 10:45am
Story Room

Sat, Aug 09, 3:30pm - 5:00pm
Creative Lab

Sun, Aug 10, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Story Room

Sun, Aug 10, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Craft Room

Mon, Aug 11, 10:00am - 11:30am

Mon, Aug 11, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Story Room

Tue, Aug 12, 10:15am - 11:00am
Story Room

Tue, Aug 12, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Creative Lab

Tue, Aug 12, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Level 3 Conference Room

Fri, Aug 15, 4:00pm - 5:30pm
Creative Lab
This event is full

Sat, Aug 16, 10:15am - 10:45am

Sat, Aug 16, 10:15am - 10:45am
Story Room

Sat, Aug 16, 3:30pm - 5:30pm
Creative Lab

Sun, Aug 17, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Auditorium

Sun, Aug 17, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Story Room

Mon, Aug 18, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Story Room

Tue, Aug 19, 10:15am - 11:00am
Story Room

Tue, Aug 19, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Level 3 Conference Room

Thu, Aug 21, 4:00pm - 5:00pm

Thu, Aug 21, 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Level 2 Periodicals Area

Thu, Aug 21, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Rooftop Terrace

Fri, Aug 22, 4:00pm - 5:30pm
Creative Lab

Sat, Aug 23, 10:15am - 11:00am
Story Room

Sat, Aug 23, 3:30pm - 5:00pm
Creative Lab

Sun, Aug 24, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Story Room

Mon, Aug 25, 10:00am - 11:30am

Mon, Aug 25, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Story Room

Tue, Aug 26, 10:15am - 11:00am
Story Room

Tue, Aug 26, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Level 3 Conference Room

Wed, Aug 27, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Story Room

Fri, Aug 29, 4:00pm - 5:30pm
Creative Lab
Registration opens Friday, August 15 2025 at 9:00am