Sacramento RT unveils 'Rolling Art' light railcars

In partnership with the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission (SMAC), the Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) unveiled four light rail trains that have been wrapped with art designed by four local artists: Ruby Chacón, Linda Nunes, Kerri Warner, and Donine Wellman.

“I want to thank the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission for being a great partner in our endeavor to bring creative energy and joy to our community,” said Henry Li, SacRT GM/CEO. “We are continually looking for ways to improve our riders’ experience, contribute to the beautification of Sacramento, and operate in a fiscally prudent manner. Art-wrapped trains accomplish each of these objectives.”

Chacón’s art creates spaces of belonging and builds community through art. Nunes’ artwork is a surreal and condensed landscape environment created with impenetrable vegetation, sunny colors, and subtle texture. Warner wanted her art to be colorful, whimsical and relatable to the people of Sacramento. Wellman chose bright and cheery colors with a countdown as the train arrives in a whimsical city.

The artists were selected from a juried registry based on their individual bodies of work that would suit the scale of light rail trains. Their colorful masterpieces will be traveling throughout the Sacramento region at various speeds — while also reflecting joyful expressions of our diverse Sacramento communities.

“These four artists represent such range in terms of their content, subject, style and design. Each artist came up with a unique message, completely different from the other, which is what I love about this exhibition,” said Patrick Kennedy, chair of the SacRT Board of Directors and vice chair of the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors. “Art does many things — it inspires, it creates conversation and it brings joy. SacRT is proud that our trains can bring a positive visual impact and message in each community.”

Each unique in style, color and design, the artists’ designs were transferred to vinyl and then applied using a standard fabrication and installation method to attach to the train. Wrapping is an efficient and cost-effective way to improve the exterior of older light rail trains. Funding for the project was provided through existing SacRT resources.