SPACES: Co-creating Communities at UMBC

November 2020 - December 2020

Just over a year ago on November 4, 2019, OCA Mocha opened its doors to the community three years after the idea of a student-made coffee shop in Arbutus started brewing. Since then we’ve become one of the many UMBC student-made spaces that fosters collaboration, engagement, and, most importantly, community.  

UMBC’s Center for Democracy and Civic Life (CDCL) works to empower people to create these communities, cultivate thriving civic cultures, and ultimately shape their world. Part of their and our mission is to celebrate these spaces so that we can continue to build relationships between UMBC and Arbutus and be advocates and creators of community. So many students, faculty and staff at UMBC have impacted how and why we come together and we wanted to tell their stories.   

This exhibition features the digital illustrations of the student made spaces in our community by artist, designer, UMBC student, and the CDCL Intern, Tess McRae. Over the past two years, Tess, CDCL Director David Hoffman and CDCL Assistant Director Romy Hübler have been collecting the stories of UMBC student-made spaces to inspire community members to be active in co-creating UMBC.  

As you reflect on the gallery, take a postcard by the community meeting room wall and let us know what inspires you about the spaces featured in this gallery. I know that, here at OCA Mocha, we’re continually inspired by you and we’re looking forward to many more years of celebrating coffee and community.  

- Curated by Madeline Arbutus, Visual Art & Media and Communication Studies UMBC 2022

Featured UMBC student-made spaces by Tess McRae:

OCA Mocha, 2020, 20’’x16,’’ digital illustration

The Center for Democracy and Civic Life, 2019, 20’’x16,’’ digital illustration

The Retriever Learning Center, 2019, 20’’x16,’’ digital illustration

Student Orgs Space, 2019, 20’’x16,’’ digital illustration

Homecoming Bonfire, 2019, 16’’x20,’’ digital illustration

Student Government Association Office, 2019, 20’’x16,’’ digital illustration

The Garden, 2019, 20’’x16,’’ digital illustration

Solar Panels at the RAC, 2019, 16’’x20,’’ digital illustration

Solar Panels at the Commons, 2019, 16’’x20,’’ digital illustration

Retriever Essentials, 2020, 16’’x20,’’ digital illustration

Pangea, 2019, 16’’x20,’’ digital illustration