An exhibition titled 'Reclaim, Repurpose, Reimagine (RRR)' will open at Sonoma State University's Art Gallery on September 4, 2025, featuring works by five Bay Area artists: Mia Feuer, Bryan Keith Thomas, Arleene Correa Valencia, and Richard Lang and Judith Selby Lang of One Beach Plastic. Co-curated by SSU faculty members Eileen Parent and Stefan Kiesbye, the show transforms discarded objects into art across mediums like sculpture, fiber arts, painting, photography, and mixed media, exploring themes of resilience, diversity, vulnerability, and cultural identity. It also includes pieces from The Recology Artstart Student Hub (TRASH) summer art residency program, with a public reception on opening day and an artist talk on September 25.
This exhibition matters because it highlights the growing intersection of environmental sustainability and contemporary art, challenging audiences to reconsider waste and consumption through creative reuse. By featuring local Bay Area artists and a student residency program, it underscores the role of university galleries in fostering community engagement and dialogue around pressing ecological and social issues, making art accessible and relevant to a broader public.