LEWISTON — The Great Falls Forum lecture series presents The Beehive Design Collective from Machias, speaking on “The True Cost of Coal: a Visual Exploration of Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining and Resistance.”
The program takes place at noon Thursday, Oct. 13, in Callahan Hall at the Lewiston Public Library.
Two years in the making, “The True Cost of Coal” is an elaborate narrative illustration that explores the complex story of mountaintop removal coal mining and the broader impacts of coal in Appalachia and beyond.
Members of Beehive will be using their intricately-drawn, large mural artwork to explain their intensive and collaborative research process which is centered on firsthand story-sharing. To create the poster, the Beehive interviewed hundreds of community members throughout the Appalachia region.
“We feel it’s extremely important to gather our information from as close to the source as possible,” a Beehive illustrator said.
The Bees craft visual metaphors and weave them together in a patchwork “quilt” of personal stories. In their interactive Forum lecture, the Bees will lead the audience through a banner version of the graphic, interweaving anecdotes, statistics and history. The experience prompts discussion and understanding of contemporary struggles about energy and coal, while honoring the deep legacy of the Appalachian experience.
“The True Cost of Coal” is the latest work in the Beehive’s repertoire of graphics campaigns. The Beehive tackles issues as diverse as biotechnology, corporate globalization, food and agriculture and colonialism. The group’s mission is to “cross-pollinate the grassroots” by creating images that educate the public and deconstruct complex geopolitical issues. Their body of work is distributed as “anti-copyright;” individuals and organizations are encouraged to reproduce the graphics for nonprofit use as a means of circulating information and awareness.
Admission is free to all Forum events and no reservations are required. The presentation will take place at the library at 200 Lisbon St. Attendees are invited to bring brown-bag lunches, or to take advantage of the forum’s partnership with Guthries cafe and request one of the eatery’s custom-made, gourmet sandwiches or salads to be delivered to the library in advance of the talk. Orders may be placed by calling Guthries at 376-3344. The menu is available at www.guthriesplace.com. Coffee, tea and bottled water will be available on site at the library.
The Great Falls Forum is jointly co-sponsored by Bates College, Lewiston Public Library and the Sun Journal. More information on Thursday’s lecture or other upcoming events in the Great Falls Forum series is available by contacting the Lewiston Public Library at 513-3135 or www.LPLonline.org.
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- A crop from “The True Cost of Coal,” by the Beehive Collective. To see the full resolution poster, click here.
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