For the past 18 years, photographer Carl Galie has devoted his artistic talents to conservation work, and his latest exhibit is no exception. “Lost on the Road To Oblivion: The Vanishing Beauty of Coal Country,” tackles the difficult and poignant subject of mountaintop removal coal mining in Appalachia. The exhibit is on display at Appalachian State University’s Turchin Center for the Visual Arts through Feb. 7, 2014.

Carl’s series of hauntingly beautiful images is accompanied by striking poems crafted by North Carolina’s Poet Laureate, Dr. Joseph Bathanti, who was moved to participate in the exhibit — and become involved in the movement to end mountaintop removal — when he witnessed Carl’s images just a few months ago.

On Wednesday, Nov. 20, Carl will present a lecture series and gallery talk on his show starting at 6:30 p.m. Everyone in the Boone area should come out to see this moving show and hear how Carl became involved in the movement to spread awareness about mountaintop removal coal mining in Appalachia.

For more information, visit the Turchin Center’s website.