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THE PROJECT: Finding a Middle Ground for Maine's Woods is a traveling multi-media, interactive educational art exhibit exploring our human connection to the woodlands of northern New England. It addresses the way our life-style choices have, do, and will affect our surroundings. The exhibit depicts 300 years of change in the regions? forests through sketches, sculpture, poetry, photography, found objects, music and electronic messages in both traditional and contemporary approaches. It asks viewers, "How do we ensure coming generations adequate quality resources for their needs and enjoyment?" and provides viewers the opportunity to respond by sharing their opinions, comments and suggestions. This participatory research aspect, which engages the public, is what makes the exhibit such a unique and innovative survey tool. Though the exhibit is designed as a self-guiding experience, in each community one or two facilitated group discussions will be offered centering on the question of how we supply our needs and still ensure coming generations adequate resources. A website and materials from the National Community Forestry Center, Northern Forest Region will be available to support follow up for those who participate in facilitated discussions. We will arrange student tours and presentations to business and civic organizations to share the relevance of the material with diverse audiences, those grappling with immediate community issues and those who will inherit the consequences of current decisions. Developing a local web page with links to information sites and support services would be an opportunity for people to continue the discussion and dialogue. A Middle Ground web presence will be another way for the Collaborative to collect viewers? responses. On the tour?s conclusion, the responses gathered from the venues will be edited and presented to those making policy decisions on forestry issues at the Maine state capitol and elsewhere. |