The Alchemy of Place

Some of the components that go into creating a unique sense of place are:

• Natural History
• Cultural History
• Art
• Commerce
• Custom
• Community

What we wish to identify and create is a unique sense of place. Sameness is created by a lack of diversity. A corn field in Iowa is pretty similar to a corn field in Kansas, just as a McDonalds in Bryan is similar to a McDonalds in Boston. Creating a sense of place is a process of discovery of diversity and a celebration of that diversity. Here in the Brazos Valley we have all kinds of diversity including biodiversity, cultural diversity, ethnic and racial diversity... in fact we are diverse in our diversity.

To the degree that it is assumed that we have a mono-culture that is because we have failed to fully celebrate our diversity.