For Immediate Release

October 20, 2025

Larry Gibson Portrait Featured in Art Exhibit Program October 25th

10 Portraits Displayed at S. Parkersburg Library through Nov. 17

PARKERSBURG, West Virginia – Maine artist Robert Shetterly has created more than 280 portraits of Americans who tell the truth. Each of these portraits recognizes a person who has made significant contributions to creating justice in life in America, people who Shetterly calls “Truth Tellers.

One of the “truth tellers” Shetterly painted is West Virginian Larry Gibson (1946 -2012)

Long known as ”Keeper of the Mountains,” Gibson spent much of his adult life opposing mining in his beloved West Virginia mountains. On October 25^th, from 1pm – 2:30pm Mid-Ohio Valley Climate Action and the South Parkersburg Library will present a program about Gibson’s work, including information about the destructive effects of mountaintop removal mining.

“ We hope visitors to the ‘Americans Who Tell the Truth’ exhibit will be interested in learning more about this West Virginian environmental hero,” said MOVCA member Adeline Bailey. “But every one of these portraits introduces a person who has worked for justice in our country, and we are planning to feature others in programs during the exhibition.”

Thanks to a Direct Support Fund grant, Mid-Ohio Valley Climate Action is exhibiting 10 portraits from Shetterly’s Earth Justice Truth Tellers series at the South Parkersburg Library through November 17. The exhibit will be available for viewing free of charge during regular library hours. Included with each portrait is a carefully researched biography provided by Americans Who Tell the Truth (AWTT), the non-profit organization that makes arrangements for the artist’s traveling exhibitions. During the exhibition, the library staff will feature books and other media that are written by, or about the people portrayed.

South Parkersburg Library is located at 1807 Blizzard Drive. Regular hours of operation are as follows: Monday 10am-8pm, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 10am-6pm, Friday10am-5pm, Saturday10am-3pm.

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Mid-Ohio Valley Climate Action focuses on raising awareness of the solid science establishing the danger of the climate crisis and the urgency of dealing with it. MOVCA supports the efforts of 350.org, and Citizens’ Climate Lobby, and is a Science Booster Club for the National Center for Science Education. Now a 501(c)(3) organization, the not-for-profit volunteer group also collaborates with other environmental groups on campaigns and events in the Mid-Ohio Valley. For more information, visit the organization’s web page (http://main.movclimateaction.org).

The Direct Support Fund is made possible by Cloud Mountain Foundation, The Plastic Solutions Fund, The Heinz Endowments and the 11th Hour Project and is a project of the Mountain Watershed Association. For more information or to apply please visit www.mtwatershed.com.

For more information about Americans Who Tell the Truth: americanswhotellthetruth.org