And for the first time ever, Artrain USA will arrive in Brainerd via the railway for a four-day art exhibition.

The refurbished five-car train will arrive in town on July 21 and will open to the public July 24-27 on Front Street at 9th Street in Brainerd.

The train's new exhibition, which opened in April for a four-year run, is "Native Views: Influences of Modern Culture," a contemporary Indian art exhibition composed of 71 works of art by 54 Indian artists. This is the only stop planned in Minnesota this year.

Artrain USA likely wouldn't have come to Brainerd had it not been that the Michigan-based non-profit organization's program director is Laura Antolak Drew, who is a 1982 Pequot Lakes High School graduate. Her mother, Mary Antolak, continues to live in Pequot Lakes.

Drew enlisted the help of her brother, Jack Antolak, and his wife, Wendy, who live in Brainerd. Wendy Antolak and Nancy Cross of Brainerd Community Action are serving as co-chairs of the steering committee to bring the Artrain to Brainerd. The committee is working to find additional sponsors, volunteer tour guides and others to help make the train's visit a spectacular event. They also are recruiting area artists who create Indian art to demonstrate their work. A tour of the train will be free but donations are encouraged.

Artrain USA has reached more than 720 cities and 44 states. Drew said she has wanted to bring the Artrain to the Brainerd lakes area for a long time.

"I'm looking forward to it," said Wendy Antolak. "I'm not familiar with modern Native American art and it'll be interesting to see the contrasts and comparisons between the old and the new."

The train's visit isn't solely for art enthusiasts, said Drew. Those interested in trains may enjoy seeing the refurbished 1940s-era rail cars converted into a traveling museum.

Drew said it can be difficult navigating the Artrain through the country. She said the organization on average works with 12-24 railroad companies a year, including the four major railroads and many short lines, to take the train to rural communities.

"It's an interesting puzzle," said Drew. "It's not like a rock band where you can fly into Maine one weekend and be in Washington the next. It's almost like connecting the dots."

The first rail car is a gift shop while three of the cars contain the art exhibition. The art themes of each of the railroad exhibition cars are, "Influences of Popular Culture," "Cultural Modernism," and "Native Knowledge: Land, Science, Wisdom." The final car is for the staff of seven workers who travel with the train.

Artrain USA worked with a team of Indian leaders to design this exhibit, who recommended a contemporary Indian art exhibition.

"People think of traditional art, not as living artists creating today," said Drew. "They don't think of them as the person in New York or the person on the reservation creating art. They often think of them in stereotypical ways. We wanted to create something that breaks down those stereotypes. What really drew us was showing Native American art in a contemporary light."

Drew said the art exhibition includes work from 54 artists with a variety of tribal affiliations.

Antolak said volunteers still are needed to serve as tour guides and help with the Artrain USA community visit. Demonstrating artists also are needed. To find out more about Artrain USA, visit its Web site at www.ArtrainUSA.org. To volunteer or book a group tour, contact Evelyn Matthies at 829-5953 or 829-4126.

The event is hosted by Brainerd Community Action with area sponsors that so far include AAA Minnesota/Iowa, Anderson Bros. Construction, Brainerd Community Action, Brainerd Dispatch, Brainerd Lakes Area Chambers of Commerce, Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, Bremer Bank, C.A.R.E., Central Lakes College Foundation, Dutch and Irma Cragun, The Crossing Arts Alliance, Lakes Printing, Ramada Inn, Russell & Herder and Wells Fargo Bank in Brainerd.

JODIE TWEED can be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.