LEWISTON – Visual and performing artist William Pope.L. will speak on “The Black Factory And You” on Thursday, March 17, as part of the Great Falls Forum’s seventh season.

“The Black Factory” is Pope.L’s way of using the black experience as a funnel to talk about differences. He challenges his audiences to confront and re-examine American notions on race, class, pop culture and consumerism through his work in sculpture, performance and installations.

Past works have included crawling through the streets of major cities, eating and regurgitating the Wall Street Journal, and mapping the United States in hot dogs. He teaches in the Department of Theater and Rhetoric at Bates College. He is perhaps best known in Maine for “eRacism” a retrospective exhibition at the Maine College of Art that also toured to Texas, Oregon and New York.

Lunch is $7 with preregistration, $10 at the door, if space is still available. Lunch reservations must be made by calling Jeanne Lachance at 689-2843 on or before Tuesday, March 15.

The Great Falls Forum is a monthly public platform for thought-provoking speakers and discussion. Everyone is welcome. No dues. No obligations. Just lunch, discussion and good information and the opportunity to hear some renowned speakers and experts discuss subjects.

A question-and-answer period will follow the talk.