The Maine Monitor staff will once again host a booth at the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association’s Common Ground Country Fair, which is being held the weekend of September 19 in Unity.
The Monitor team will answer questions about the newsroom’s work and speak to fairgoers about their local journalism needs. Reporters will host a “Talk to The Maine Monitor” booth to hear from Mainers about how they see and feel the state changing.
Environmental Reporter Emmett Gartner will host a conversation about environmental journalism in Maine at 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 20, in the Railcar Speakers Tent.
The Maine Monitor will also unveil new merchandise, designed by local Maine artist Ashley Megquier.
“To come up with a visual representation of The Maine Monitor’s work and commitment to Maine, we turned to Maine native and Belfast artist Ashley Megquier,” said Executive Director Micaela Schweitzer-Bluhm. “Ashley’s design speaks to our statewide coverage and our dedication to covering Augusta, our great outdoors, our people, and our livelihoods.”
“It also nods to The Monitor’s journalism in digital, audio, and video form,” she said. “We love this fun and vibrant design that is 100% Maine and hope our readers will too.”
Megquier is a mixed-media artist and muralist from the Belfast area, whose work is largely inspired by nature, traveling and recurring patterns she sees in the world. She has participated in large community art projects, including a painted panel for the “Here is Magic” collaborative mural on the side of the Waterfall Arts building, a painted chair for the “Sit Down Belfast” project and two crosswalks in downtown Belfast. She is part of WOW Collective, four women artists painting murals and bringing other creative projects to life.
The Maine Monitor booth will be in the media section of the fairgrounds, off the Common, and will be staffed throughout all hours of the fair, which runs September 19 through 21.
Tote bags with Ashley’s new design will be available for free while supplies last. Additional merchandise with the new design will be available for suggested donations.
