fine art
A Photographic Project
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Since moving to West Virginia, there have been several coal mining tragedies that have brought coal mining, and especially the people who do the mining, to my attention … and to the attention of the world.
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With America looking for ways to reduce dependence on Middle Eastern oil, the coal industry is in the national spotlight. The future of American energy may depend in no small part on those who serve on the front lines, the coal miners themselves.
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In making life-sized photographs of miners, I hoped to celebrate their valuable place in American society and honor their importance to the future of us all.
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The West Virginia Coal Miners Project resulted in twenty four full-size, images, mounted on steel, now permanently exhibited in two museums in West Virginia: Museum in the Park, Chief Logan State Park in Logan, and Grave Creek Archaeological Complex in Moundsville.
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Click an image below to start Slide Show
America's Coal Miners
Project Sponsors
International Coal Group, Scott Depot, West Virginia
Prichard Mining Company, Hansford, West Virginia
Appalachian Power, Charleston, West Virginia
A.T. Massey Coal Co., Richmond, Virginia
Natural Resource Partners, Huntington, West Virginia
Petroleum Products, Belle, West Virginia
Roger Nicholson, Charleston, West Virginia
Jackson Kelley, Charleston, West Virginia
International Industries, Gilbert, West Virginia
Wells Fargo Insurance Services, WV, VA, KY and TN
Rajkovich, Williams, Kilpatrick & True, Lexington, Kentucky
Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP., Lexington, Kentucky
Steptoe & Johnson, West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky
United Mine Workers of America, Fairfax, Virginia
Bituminous Coal Heritage Foundation Museum, Madison, West Virginia
Progressity Development Solutions, Charleston, West Virginia
Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation, Charleston, West Virginia
Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love, Charleston, West Virginia
Philip B. Gibson, Versailles, Kentucky
Mouldagraph Corporation, Nitro, West Virginia
Charleston Steel, Dunbar, West Virginia