McNair Evans

Tomorrow Ever Comes

June 3 – July 15, 2023

Brown suitcase on train platform, by McNair Evans

McNair Evans

California Zephyr 032011, 2012

Archival pigment print

20 x 25 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

32 x 40 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_022

Landscape of train tracks, by McNair Evans

McNair Evans

Crescent 029001, 2012

Archival pigment print

20 x 25 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

32 x 40 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_042

Landscape from train window, by McNair Evans

McNair Evans

Cardinal 003007, 2016

Archival pigment print

20 x 25 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

32 x 40 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_072

Silhouette of person on train, by McNair Evans

McNair Evans

Cardinal 003010, 2016

Archival pigment print

20 x 25 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

32 x 40 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_073

Dreamy landscape from train window, by McNair Evans

McNair Evans

Cardinal 002007, 2016

Archival pigment print

20 x 25 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

32 x 40 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_091

Person seated on train, by McNair Evans

McNair Evans

Heartland Flyer 005002, 2016

Archival pigment print

20 x 25 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

32 x 40 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_067

Landscape with capital building by McNair Evans

McNair Evans

Silver Meteor 012002, 2013

Archival pigment print

20 x 25 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

32 x 40 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_061

Side of face of person looking out train window photographed from behind, by McNair Evans

McNair Evans

Carolinian 006001, 2016

Archival pigment print

25 x 20 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

40 x 32 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_079

Person with glasses peering back, in train seat

McNair Evans

Carolinian 006004, 2016

Archival inkjet print

25 x 20 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

40 x 32 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_080

Person with baby on train, by McNair Evans

McNair Evans

California Zephyr 013006, 2018

Archival pigment print

20 x 25 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

32 x 40 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_081

Person in hoodie sleeping on train, by McNair Evans

McNair Evans

Vermonter 012001, 2016

Archival pigment print

20 x 25 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

32 x 40 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_078

View from train

McNair Evans

Texas Eagle 014001, 2016

Archival inkjet print

25 x 20 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

40 x 32 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_069

Torso of Person with big blonde hair on train, my McNair Evans

McNair Evans

Silver Star 023010, 2013

Archival pigment print

25 x 20 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

40 x 32 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_058

Landscape from train, by McNair Evans

McNair Evans

Sunset Limited 041006, 2012

Archival pigment print

20 x 25 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

32 x 40 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_036

Dreamy landscape from train window, by McNair Evans

McNair Evans

Lincoln Service 003005, 2022

Archival pigment print

20 x 25 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

32 x 40 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_086

Dining table on train

McNair Evans

Sunset Limited 019002, 2012

Archival inkjet print

20 x 25 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

32 x 40 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_034

Person on train fixing hair

McNair Evans

Silver Star 019003, 2013

Archival inkjet print

25 x 20 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

40 x 32 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_055

Person with snacks on a train, by McNair Evans

McNair Evans

Southwest Chief 015002, 2012

Archival pigment print

20 x 25 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

32 x 40 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_031

Adult and child in train seats, by McNair Evans

McNair Evans

Crescent 010001, 2012

Archival pigment print

20 x 25 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

32 x 40 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_040

Silhouette portrait on a train, by McNair Evans

McNair Evans

Southwest Chief 008012, 2012

Archival pigment print

25 x 20 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

40 x 32 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_029

Table on train

McNair Evans

Capital Limited 012001, 2012

Archival inkjet print

20 x 25 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

32 x 40 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_026

Abstract landscape from train window

McNair Evans

Capital Limited 013003, 2013

Archival inkjet print

20 x 25 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

32 x 40 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_062

Landscape from train window, by McNair Evans

McNair Evans

Texas Eagle 009009, 2016

Archival pigment print

20 x 25 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

32 x 40 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_068

Headshot of person on train, looking at camera, by McNair Evans

McNair Evans

Coast Starlight 012006, 2018

Archival pigment print

25 x 20 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

40 x 32 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_082

Person with embroidery, by McNair Evans

McNair Evans

Southwest Chief 011003, 2012

Archival pigment print

20 x 25 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

32 x 40 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_030

Person with child on lap on a train, by McNair Evans

McNair Evans

Coastliner 005910, 2016

Archival pigment print

20 x 25 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

32 x 40 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_063

Person at table with food on train car, by McNair Evans

McNair Evans

California Zephyr 040067, 2013

Archival pigment print

25 x 20 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

40 x 32 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_051

Landscape of underpass, by McNair Evans

McNair Evans

Silver Meteor 002006, 2013

Archival pigment print

20 x 25 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

32 x 40 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_059

Headshot of person in sun on a train, by McNair Evans

McNair Evans

Sunset Limited 004008, 2016

Archival pigment print

20 x 25 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

32 x 40 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_064

Person seated at table on train, photographed from behind, by McNair Evans

McNair Evans

Vermonter 010010, 2016

Archival pigment print

20 x 25 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

32 x 40 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_077

Kids playing with dolls on train seats, by McNair Evans

McNair Evans

Southwest Chief 001009, 2012

Archival pigment print

20 x 25 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

32 x 40 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_090

Person sleeping on train, by McNair Evans

McNair Evans

Lake Shore Limited 004006, 2013

Archival pigment print

20 x 25 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

32 x 40 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_045

Older person holding plastic bag and newspaper on train, by McNair Evans

McNair Evans

Vermonter 006006, 2016

Archival pigment print

25 x 20 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

40 x 32 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_074

Person with Budweiser bandana over mouth, by McNair Evans

McNair Evans

Coast Starlight 016009, 2020

Archival pigment print

25 x 20 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

40 x 32 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_083

Person relaxing in train seat with headphones and flowers, by McNair Evans

McNair Evans

Empire Builder 022006, 2013

Archival pigment print

20 x 25 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

32 x 40 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_049

Person in striped shirt looking out train window, by McNair Evans

McNair Evans

Heartland Flyer 003009, 2016

Archival pigment print

20 x 25 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

32 x 40 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_066

Person on train on cell phone

McNair Evans

Crescent 003001, 2012

Archival inkjet print

20 x 25 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

32 x 40 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_039

Dreamy landscape from train window, by McNair Evans

McNair Evans

Lincoln Service 003009, 2022

Archival pigment print

20 x 25 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

32 x 40 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_087

People talking on train

McNair Evans

Crescent 013001, 2012

Archival inkjet print

20 x 25 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

32 x 40 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_041

Landscape with bridge

McNair Evans

Crescent 001007, 2012

Archival inkjet print

20 x 25 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

32 x 40 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_038

Amtrak worker at table on train

McNair Evans

California Zephyr 041005, 2013

Archival inkjet print

20 x 25 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

32 x 40 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_052

Person on train with book

McNair Evans

Sunset Limited 053007, 2012

Archival inkjet print

20 x 25 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

32 x 40 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_037

Person reclining on train bench, by McNair Evans

McNair Evans

Silver Star 021005, 2013

Archival pigment print

20 x 25 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

32 x 40 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_056

Person reclining on train booth

McNair Evans

Silver Star 021006, 2013

Archival inkjet print

20 x 25 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

32 x 40 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_057

Landscape with people and truck from train window, by McNair Evans

McNair Evans

Silver Meteor 004004, 2013

Archival pigment print

20 x 25 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

32 x 40 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_060

Industrial landscape from train window, by McNair Evans

McNair Evans

Lincoln Service 004004, 2022

Archival pigment print

20 x 25 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

32 x 40 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_088

Child looking out train window, by McNair Evans

McNair Evans

Vermonter 009001, 2016

Archival pigment print

20 x 25 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

32 x 40 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_076

Hazy scene of people from train window, by McNair Evans

McNair Evans

Vermonter 008010, 2016

Archival pigment print

20 x 25 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

32 x 40 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_075

Landscape with colorful sky, by McNair Evans

McNair Evans

Heartland Flyer 001003, 2016

Archival pigment print

20 x 25 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

32 x 40 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_065

Landscape / skyscape with smoke stacks

McNair Evans

Empire Builder 010068, 2013

Archival inkjet print

20 x 25 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

32 x 40 inches, edition of 5, 1AP

ME_048

Gallery installation view of McNair Evans, 2023
Gallery installation view of McNair Evans, 2023
Gallery installation view of McNair Evans, 2023
Gallery installation view of McNair Evans, 2023
Gallery installation view of McNair Evans, 2023
Gallery installation view of McNair Evans, 2023
Gallery installation view of McNair Evans, 2023

Press Release

Tracey Morgan Gallery is pleased to present Tomorrow Ever Comes, an exhibition by San Francisco based photographer McNair Evans. This is Evans’ second exhibition with the gallery.

Between 2012 and 2022 McNair Evans took 11 trips around the United States traveling by Amtrak, systematically covering every route within their passenger rail system with a cumulative 1,050 hours spent onboard. Photographing fellow passengers, passing landscapes, Amtrak workers, and interior train scenes, Evans’ photographs communicate a persistent hope within this once ubiquitous form of travel.

Prints are exhibited unframed and in a range of sizes – adhered directly to the wall and laid out in a lyrical aesthetic. Collaboration between photographer and subject comprises a strong component of the work, and the installation reflects the togetherness of train travel and Evans’ immersive process. Facsimiles of stories that Evans solicited from fellow passengers along his many trips are installed in a loose, interactive manner intended to encourage personal engagement.    

Train interiors are inherently liminal spaces – while the passengers change, the backdrop stays the same – the effect is democratizing. While there is an ethos of in-between-ness to all forms of travel, for the simple reason that it’s what happens between “here” and “there,” train travel exaggerates this experience simply by its slowness and because the trains themselves are tethered to the ground, moving deliberately through swaths of roadless landscape. Awash in intoxicating light, Evans’s images elicit a sense of longing – a palpable feeling of being together alone. They remind us how to share public space for a common advantage and evoke a profound impulse to linger.

McNair Evans is a nationally exhibited artist and active guest lecturer. He grew up in Laurinburg, NC where he worked repairing crossties and tracks for a 32-mile freight railroad. He discovered photography as an anthropology student at Davidson College while recording the oral history for an Appalachian family in Madison County, NC. His first monograph, Confessions for a Son, was published by Owl & Tiger Books in 2014. Evans is the recipient of numerous awards including a John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship (2016), the Innovation in Documentary Arts Award from Duke University (2017), and the John Gutmann Photography Fellowship (2014). His photographs have been featured in numerous publications including Harper’s Magazine, Oxford American, Vanity Fair, and The New Yorker, as well as on the cover of William Faulkner’s novel, Flags in the Dust. His books and prints are held in public and private collections including the Sir Elton John Collection, SFMOMA, UC Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive, and the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library at Yale University.