Athens Area Council for the Arts presents: "Trouble! At Coal Creek" by Austin Sauerbrei, which gives viewers a chance to see the process of a working sequential artist.
The exhibit is open to the public August 18 through September 26, 2025 in the Peggy Dow Performance Center at The Arts Center.
Sauerbrei’s graphic novel, "Trouble! at Coal Creek," is based on the historical events of an East Tennessee labor uprising known as "the Coal Creek War."
This exhibit unpacks the true events of the Coal Creek War, showcases the art from the book, and breaks down the artist’s creative process and what he learned along the way. The exhibit consists of a combination of original art, pages at different stages of development, original photos and newspaper articles from the historical events, and an 8-minute video interview with an East TN historian that helped produce the book.
Austin Sauerbrei is a community organizer and sequential artist based in Tennessee. He currently serves as the Director for Statewide Organizing for Community eMpowerment (SOCM), a 53-year-old, member-led organization dedicated to empowering everyday Tennesseans in their efforts to have a greater voice in determining their own future. Prior to this, Austin spent years as a neighborhood and tenant organizer in Nashville, and then as a labor organizer in Chattanooga and Knoxville. A lifelong comics enthusiast, Austin practices visual storytelling as a form of popular education. He and his wife, the Rev. Claire Brown, live in Athens, TN, with their three children.
During the opening reception on September 12, patrons can enjoy refreshments and chat with the artist.
The exhibit and Opening Reception are available to the public for free. Public viewing is welcomed during regular business hours and special events. For more information about this exhibit, please visit athensartscouncil.org/exhibitions. To learn more about Trouble! at Coal Creek and purchase the graphic novel, visit haymarketbooks.org.
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