LEWISTON — Museum L-A announces its new exhibit, “Structures & Patterns: The Remnants of Our Work,” in collaboration with its guest curator Janice L. Moore, fine arts painter, and photographer Mark Marchesi. The exhibit includes works by those artists and incorporates authentic mill artifacts. Both artists and the museum are examining the community’s relationship to industrial mills in Maine, specifically the historical city of Lewiston.

The goal of the exhibit is to evoke a sense of reverence for the cities’ mills and elevate the mill buildings to the level of importance they deserve in a viewer’s eyes. It also aims to help people understand that although old working factories are often seen as just abandoned work structures, they are actually renewed and repurposed industrial sites not to be taken for granted. The exhibit will be open from July 15 to Oct. 28.

An opening reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, July 15, and is free to the public.

A panel discussion “New Patterns: Planning the Future of our New Work” will be held at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18, and will include members of the community, business owners, nonprofit organizations and creative entrepreneurs. Each voice will bring a different perspective to a conversation about the economic future of the city of Lewiston. The discussion will highlight the significant impact of the growing creative/maker community, in addition to how these industrial structures could help shape Lewiston’s future landscape and economy.

“I wanted a way for the work I’ve been creating for so long to be useful in some way. Showing this art in this repurposed mill space feels perfect,” said Moore. “The exhibit itself becomes part of the process of repurposing at the mill and creates a new opportunity to be in this space, to see, to notice, to remember and to share. Art as a reflection of what is, what was and what’s next,” she said. “My hope is that the art and archives can serve as another platform for the ongoing conversation the L-A community has been engaging in toward its re-imagined and revitalized future.”

It is hoped the exhibit will spur people to consider: what would happen if a real estate developer, a retired mill worker and young people shared their ideas and visions for what their city could be.

“Museum L-A believes that rather than push ideas at our visitors, we strive to pull ideas from them,” Rachel Desgrosseilliers, executive director of Museum L-A, said. “We will use imagination to envision the community that meets their needs and the needs of generations to come.”

Throughout the exhibit, Museum L-A, in collaboration with the Maine Historical Society, hopes to capture stories and memories for My Maine Stories for the Maine Memory Network collection. Museum visitors are encouraged to share their memories of the mills of Maine.

This project is made possible with generous support from Talley-O Design, Platz Associates, Kimball Street Studios and Center Street Dental.

Museum L-A is located at 35 Canal St. in the Bates Mill Complex and is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and students, and free for children 5 years and under. Admission includes a guided tour. For more information, contact the museum at 207-333-3881 or email [email protected].