LEWISTON, Maine — In the face of tragedy, Tanja Hollander and Rachel Ferrante have been on a mission—collecting items at memorials across the city of Lewiston.
It has been three weeks since 18 people were killed and 13 others were injured in the largest mass shooting in Maine's history.
"It's our history and we don't want history to repeat itself," Hollander said.
Ferrante and Hollander have focused on the sites at Just-In-Time Recreation bowling alley and Schemengee's Bar & Grill where people left behind pumpkins, flowers, notes, candles, and other mementos to honor the lives lost.
"We do feel like it's our responsibility to help memorialize not just the tragedy that happened here but also the community's response," Ferrante said.
Ferrante is the executive director of the Maine MILL (Museum of Innovation Learning and Labor) in Lewiston where they are displaying the pieces they collect in a temporary exhibit.
With the help of Hollander, a local artist, they carefully hand-select items that would otherwise be damaged, photograph them, and archive them.
"I usually make a circle in the morning and at night. I was doing that every day for the first week or two," Hollander said.
Much of her work has focused on grief and vulnerability. Hollander said she has documented other tragedies like the Las Vegas shootings and Paris terror attacks. She never thought it would happen in her own backyard.
"I don't think any of us who live in Maine thought that it would happen here. I'm sure every community says that, but I don't lock the front door of my house. I had to go find the key," Hollander said.
While they are consulting skilled archivists and have the help of volunteers, the task of preserving the items is painstaking.
Among the most impactful are the leftover candles and cups held by loved ones at the first vigils, as well as the now iconic hearts that were stapled to trees in the city in the days of lockdown.
The goal is to preserve each unique item for years to come, to honor the victims' lives, remember the tragedy, and showcase the city's strength.
"Saving those things and bringing them here we allow hopefully the community to continue that long journey of healing," Ferrante said. "We want to be a part of making sure this is never forgotten."
The Maine MILL is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is also hosting a "Mindful Moment" session on Nov. 17 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. You can read more about the project at MaineMILL.org.