Tonight Citizen Architect – Samuel Mockbee and the Spirit of the Rural Studio kicks off the AIA Memphis Architecture month film series. It is a much awaited showing for me as I have been keeping up with the documentary since last year when it was in post-production. The film finally debuted in March of this year with a universal message and genuine spirit that a person and their ideas can make a difference in their community. This spirit is beautifully revealed through the story of the late architect Samuel Mockbee and the thoughtful architecture of the Rural Studio. As an interesting note, the storytellers of Citizen Architect include Mockbee's son-in-law and filmmaker Sam Wainwright Douglas and former Rural Studio alumna/instructor Jay Sanders.
My Personal Summary of the Rural Studio
The Rural Studio is where my Auburn University architecture colleagues, including my husband then good friend, and I volunteered to learn differently knowing we would get our hands dirty. After a short time in West Alabama, a place of slow change and very little luxury, we understood through our professor Samuel Mockbee, whom we were at ease to call Sambo, that we had the power to change that positively with thoughtful design. The Rural Studio seemed magical in that sense but, at the same time, the most real we would ever get in a classroom – real clients, real budget, real materials, and real hard work. It was a few short months but a time I’ll never forget. In some ways, I am looking forward to tonight’s film as another lesson from Sambo, a needed way to get re-inspired.
The Rural Studio is where my Auburn University architecture colleagues, including my husband then good friend, and I volunteered to learn differently knowing we would get our hands dirty. After a short time in West Alabama, a place of slow change and very little luxury, we understood through our professor Samuel Mockbee, whom we were at ease to call Sambo, that we had the power to change that positively with thoughtful design. The Rural Studio seemed magical in that sense but, at the same time, the most real we would ever get in a classroom – real clients, real budget, real materials, and real hard work. It was a few short months but a time I’ll never forget. In some ways, I am looking forward to tonight’s film as another lesson from Sambo, a needed way to get re-inspired.
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If you are in Memphis, I hope you go see the film even if you have no ties whatsoever to Samuel Mockbee, the Rural Studio, or architecture. Hopefully you’ll walk away with a renewed spirit to make a difference. See film screening details below. Please read more about the film here.
September 8 / 7 PM / St. Francis Longinotti Auditorium / 5959 Park Ave / $5 Cash at Door
Presented by AIA Memphis
Citizen Architect
If you are in Memphis, I hope you go see the film even if you have no ties whatsoever to Samuel Mockbee, the Rural Studio, or architecture. Hopefully you’ll walk away with a renewed spirit to make a difference. See film screening details below. Please read more about the film here.
September 8 / 7 PM / St. Francis Longinotti Auditorium / 5959 Park Ave / $5 Cash at Door
Presented by AIA Memphis
Citizen Architect
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Below are a few personal favorite Rural Studio projects just in case you aren't already familiar.
1. Animal Shelter 2. 2009 20K House 3. Goat House / Photo 1 & 3 by Timothy Hursley.
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