Join artist Sam van Strien and Artspace’s Creative Director Jonh Blanco for a discussion related to Sam’s solo exhibition A From This Valley We Soon Will Be Leaving on view at Artspace from August 6-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 talks 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 our artist talks, 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. He earned his MFA from Ohio State University and a BA from Central Saint Martins at the University of the Arts London. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Architecture at Indiana University Bloomington, teaching in the interdisciplinary J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program.

Sam van Strien is a visual artist whose work examines the relationship between architecture and capitalism, exploring how these forces shape our built environment. Through research and studio-based practice, he employs techniques such as rubbings, laser-cut engravings of photographs, and drawings sourced from archival records. Sam’s work is a document and visual remnants of our urban landscape, questioning whether the essence of architecture can truly be captured through mediated images, or if it exists only as concrete matter – as a place we can touch and see.

van Strien’s work has been exhibited internationally at venues including The Koppel Project (London), Keumsan Gallery (Seoul), and the Knoxville Museum of Art. He has received support from Arts Council England, The Netherland-America Foundation, and Indiana University Bloomington, and has completed residencies at Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts, Vermont Studio Center, and USF Verftet (Norway).

About Artspace

Artspace is a non-profit visual arts center located in Downtown Raleigh. Visit Artspace to explore exhibitions featuring national and community artists, engage with more than 30 artists working in their studios, and enjoy art classes and community events for all ages and abilities. To learn more about Artspace, visit artspacenc.org

Parking and Accessibility

Free street parking is available on Davie Street. Free parking is available at the following parking decks:

• City Center Deck, 429 S. Wilmington St.
• Moore Square Deck, 233 S. Wilmington St.
• Municipal Complex Deck, 201 W. Morgan St.
• Wilmington Street Station Deck, 117 S. Wilmington St.

There are also several pay lots nearby: City Market parking lot and several Secure P lots for night + weekend parking (314 E Davie St, 415 S Person St, 417 S Person St).

Explore accessibility information with our Know Before You Go Guide.