A group of young artists from Maine are working on a graphic banner project that will tell the story of coalfield resistance to MTR and the role every consumer in the United States plays in the destruction of Appalachian mountains and streams. The Beehive Collective is an internationally known design group who's work takes on pressing social justice issues.

The group's previous projects have focused on large banners that tell the story of oppression in Latin America and a critique of the Free Trade Agreement.  Now the Hive are focusing their energy on an issue closer to home. 

A representation of Plan Colombia by the Beehive Collective

For their first design to ever  take on a movement  that is U.S.-based, the Bees are making a banner about coal with an emphasis on mountaintop removal.  Nine artists from the collective have been staying in Harlan County and visiting with KFTC members to collaborate on designing a banner that will tell the story of resistance to the industry and MTR in the coalfields and offer a vision of hope for the future.

"Even though it's going to be a challenging experience to capture the scope of devastation in our area, from what I know about their work, it's going to be a very informative and powerful project," said Carl Shoupe who recently met with artists from the Beehive Collective in Harlan County.  The poster is expected to be done by this Fall and KFTC will have access to a banner and will be able to sell posters of the design as well as use it as an educational and organizing tool.  The artists from Beehive are also designing educational materials on coal that will supplement their artwork. To learn more about The Beehive Collective  and view some of their work you can visit them online at: www.beehivecollective.org.