re: Place is a contemporary visual arts exhibition with a positive environmental intention. Formed in collaboration with environmental artist Mara Adamitz Scrupe, whose residency with the GCSU Museum in April 2009 served as the inspiration for the context of the exhibition. "Sponsored in part by the Patience Russell Peterson Endowed Fund," said curator, Shannon Morris, "the residency was structured in a manner that provided an opportunity for the students to determine the outcome of the project."

Following in the tradition of a socially conscious collaborative, the students who participated in the residency formed re: Place Collaborative. Each member offers a unique set of skills and creativity to the initiative, which also lives in the virtual world of facebook. Their mission is to maintain a dialogue through various forms of communication on the subject of how to make their world a better place to inhabit.

Garth Amundson and Pierre Gour
Seattle, Washington
Obra Negra No. 8 -Dream
Pigment print
2007  21.5"x43.5"x1"

Both poignant and positive, re: Place is intended to advance the dialogue about reconnecting with the environment in a restorative manner. The exhibition title was purposely constructed to communicate this theme; "re:" signifies "regarding" in reference to place' and serves a playful pun on replacement. "Artists were encouraged to examine the relationship between a location and its inhabitants," said exhibition curator, Michelle Hudson, "with an additional emphasis on the process of reestablishing a sense of place by restoring the space." This exhibition promotes the reconstruction of place through art, encourages the recognition of positive derivatives from the revitalization of spatial environments, and rejuvenates a more inclusive atmosphere for ecological well-being within our community.

This invitational exhibition advertised a multifarious topic in order to attain a diverse reaction. Artists from across the United States and around the world responded positively and creatively to the call. The resulting unique, variegated artwork is presented in a wide-range of media, including sculpture, digital media, photography, painting, and installation throughout the gallery.

Mara Adamitz Scrupe is an environmentally and socially attuned artist who creates projects about place for museums, arboretums, landscapes and public spaces. Currently, Mara also serves on the faculty of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Michelle Hudson graduated from Georgia College & State University in May of 2009. Michelle earned a Bachelor of Arts in Art with a focus in Art History. In August, she will begin her graduate studies in Art History at Georgia State University in Atlanta from whom she received full tuition fellowship. As a result of her call for submission posted to the College Art Association and other relevant listings Michelle received 40 submissions from artists throughout the U.S., Canada and abroad.