LEWISTON – Artist Raphael Di Luzio will speak at the Great Falls Forum Thursday about “Creative Communities: Centering Culture Amidst Maine’s Dispersed Geography.”

Di Luzio sees three things that need to be addressed in Maine in order to consider it a statewide “community:” transportation, communication and power.

“If we can approach these three things we can rethink Maine and present our state as a leader in the 21st century,” he said. “Maine can become a leader again in approaching solutions.”

Di Luzio is an assistant professor of new media and art at the University of Maine. He works as an artist both traditionally and digitally, exhibiting work around the world. His current project is a two-channel immersive video installation in Palermo, Sicily, which was exhibited this fall.

He also teaches digital poetics in Italy in a program he developed at the Academy of Belles Arts in San Martino. He is also the founder of the Apple Certified Training Center in Belfast.

Di Luzio’s talk will be given in the Lepage Conference Center, St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, 99 Campus Ave. A question-and-answer period will follow the talk.

Lunch is $7 with preregistration, $10 at the door, if space is still available. Please make lunch reservations by calling Jeanne Lachance at 689-2843, on or before Tuesday Nov. 16.

The Great Falls Forum is a monthly public platform for thought-provoking speakers and discussion. Everyone is welcome. No dues; no obligations.