Artist/Curatorial Discussion with Sam van Strien
Date: Fri, Aug 7, 2026
Time: 4pm to 5pm
Price: Free
Category: Arts
Join artist Sam van Strien and Artspace's Artist Programs Manager Alexandra Jane for a discussion related to Sam's solo exhibition From This Valley We Soon Will Be Leaving on view at Artspace from August 6 to September 27. From This Valley We Soon Will Be Leaving brings together drawings, rubbings, and prints by Sam van Strien that explore the lasting legacy of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the sweeping New Deal program that transformed the Southeastern United States during the 1930s and 1940s. Through electrification, dam construction, and flood control, the TVA transformed the region into a symbol of modernization and economic growth. Yet beneath this narrative of progress lies another history - one marked by displacement, submerged towns, and the erasure of homes, lives, and memories. Rather than being a lecture, our artist discussions invite the audience in for a shared small-group conversation. We will take a careful look at Sam's works, use visual thinking strategies to interpret, and discuss some of the following topics: Who benefits from large-scale development? Who pays the costs? How do we remember the places and structures that are no longer here? How does our built environment influence our collective memory and sense of heritage? We welcome anyone to the discussion, regardless of your knowledge of art or the exhibition's themes. About Sam van Strien Sam van Strien is an artist and professor based between Bloomington, Indiana, and Durham, North Carolina.
