School of Architecture to present “Rural Witnesses: Retracing and Reimagining Rural Architecture”

The Clemson University School of Architecture, in partnership with Partners of Place, Lee Gallery and the 701 Center for Contemporary Art (701CCA), will present Rural Witnesses: Retracing and Reimagining Rural Architecture, an exhibition exploring the transformation of rural spaces through architecture, culture and community.

The exhibition opens April 17 at 701CCA in Columbia and will run through June 15. Rural Witnesses celebrates rural spaces as living archives, recognizing their dynamic role in narratives of resilience, adaptation and transformation. From weathered farmhouses to expansive fields, these spaces tell stories of generational labor, cultural heritage and environmental change.

“Rural spaces are often seen as static, but this exhibition repositions them as dynamic and transformative,” said Jim Stevens, Director of the School of Architecture. “By understanding the historical and environmental factors that shaped these spaces, we can foster new ideas for their evolution while preserving their cultural, historical and ecological integrity.”

The exhibition examines the evolution of rural spaces shaped by local knowledge, natural limits and folk ingenuity. It explores how scarcity, climate and necessity have influenced design while considering the impact of technology and urbanization. The curators advocate understanding the policies, power dynamics and disparities that influenced rural development while honoring grounded, community-driven visions of the future, embracing these places’ history while considering their potential for evolution.

The exhibition raises questions about the future of rural spaces: How can new planning strategies and architectural imagination foster resilience and economic growth? How can rural spaces, long defined by their isolation and often by poverty, become dynamic centers of innovation and cultural preservation?

Event Details

• Opening Night: Thursday, April 17, 2025
• Time: [TBD]
• Location:
  701 Center for Contemporary Art
  701 Whaley St., Second Floor
  Columbia, SC 29201

The exhibition will feature a full schedule of events, which will be announced later this spring.

About the Partners

The Clemson University School of Architecture is at the forefront of addressing 21^st-century challenges by embracing pedagogical and technological advancements in multiple design fields. It strives to teach visionary design solutions that prioritize sustainability, environmental preservation and social equality on a global scale.

Partners of Place (PoP) is an interdisciplinary research, ideation and design collective grounded in social and environmental equity, engaging with community narratives to inspire research and project scopes.

The Lee Gallery provides Clemson University and the surrounding community access to regional, national and international artists and artworks through curated exhibitions, MFA Thesis and BFA Senior exhibitions, artist presentations and public events. The gallery showcases artists, innovators and researchers from a wide range of disciplines and diverse demographics.

The 701 Center for Contemporary Art (701 CCA) is South Carolina’s largest nonprofit art center, dedicated to producing continuous contemporary art exhibitions and offering year-round cultural programming and events.