Anchorage artist pivots hive project away from political mail after overwhelming response

Brooke McLaughlin received such a large volume of political mail in a single day that she decided to change the design of her upcoming community art installation. The longtime Alaskan initially planned to use the flyers on the exterior of a hive-shaped structure, but the sheer amount of mail changed her approach.

McLaughlin said the pile of mail represented a level of divisiveness that she wanted to move past. She noted that children in Anchorage are constantly exposed to political messaging through social media and digital platforms. She wanted the new installation to offer a different focus rather than repeating that noise.

The revised design will feature a hive shell constructed from recycled materials. The structure will include a wheelchair-accessible door to allow all visitors to enter. Inside, the space will contain 300 triangles and hexagon shapes. Each shape will be covered with artwork created by classrooms or community groups. The art will focus on the theme of what community means to the participants.

McLaughlin explained that she did not want the physical material of the political mail to be part of the final piece. She wanted the project to spark love and conversation without bringing the political energy into the space. She described the process of collecting the mail as exhausting and felt it was better to give the topic less attention.

Although the flyers will no longer line the hive, McLaughlin plans to put them to new use. She intends to break the different flyers down into new paper. The resulting material will be used to create thank-you notes or other community items. This step allows the mail to be recycled rather than discarded.

McLaughlin is currently seeking commitments from schools and community groups to provide the artwork for the 300 interior shapes. She hopes to secure these commitments by Dec. 1. Individuals who wish to help with the project are encouraged to email her at brooke@themindfulhive.com to discuss their involvement.

The project aims to create a physical space where children can look up at the hexagon shapes and see the contributions of their peers. McLaughlin believes the installation will help residents connect with one another through shared artistic expression. The hive will serve as a central location for this community-focused display in Anchorage.