Anne Garden Studio

The Cost of Coal

​My latest series began with two events: the discovery of old coal mine maps from PA, from a mine owned by a great grandfather, and an NPR report I listened to on coal miners’ health. I found the map visually stimulating and beautiful, but knew that I needed to look further into this subject matter. The environmental impacts to water, air, land use and human health are so little understood by we lay people, that I thought art addressing these issues could be interesting. Thus, I am exploring this dense subject matter with mixed media. I am using collage, silk screen, fabric and paint to create a body of work that will educate and intrigue the viewer.  First, hopefully, the viewer asks what am I seeing?, and then how do I feel about it?.