2006年由藝術家吳瑪悧所推動的「嘉義縣2006北回歸線環境藝術行動」，曾經選定5位藝術家進駐社區，與社區共同推動茶文化、陶藝、木工、繪畫與拍照等，而其中陶藝家蔡江隆、吳淑惠也因為陶藝茶具的課程，協助梅山鄉太和村開啟了獨特的茶席文化，更進一步地推動太和「戶戶有茶席」的願景。
2009年八八風災後，太和災情慘重。2013 年，南華大學建築與景觀系陳正哲副教授觀察太和有著特殊的茶產業存在，因此協助推動了茶屋文化，社區居民還因此組成「自己起建築團」。另外在地居民因風災思索茶產業與自然的關係，而開啟了野放茶的友善自然的農法。無論是在地居民亦或是進駐的學者、藝術家在藝術力的推動下，在災後因此建構了太和特殊的茶文化，見證了藝術轉動社區的可能性。
此次展間由各個身懷絕技的太和村民，帶來四種不同風格的茶席，將平面茶席延伸至立體茶空間美學，邀請旅人一起入席，感受如沐在茶香四溢的氛圍中，來一場與茶文化、茶生活的藝術之旅。
When Art Meets Tai-He Tea
The project, “2006 Northern Tropic Environment Art in Chiayi”, was initiated by the artist Wu Ma-li in 2006. Five artists were selected to take up residency in the local community of Tai-He. Through collective efforts, the cultures of tea, pottery, woodcraft, painting, and photography have all been promoted. A program focused on pottery and tea sets, led by the ceramic artists, Tsai Jian-long and Wu Shu-wei, has helped to both establish a unique tea tasting culture in this small village of Meishan and has facilitated a process whereby “every household has its own style of tea tasting”.
In 2009, Typhoon Morakot caused catastrophic damage in Tai-He. In 2013, Chen Cheng-che, Associate Professor in the Department of Architecture and Landscape Design at Nanhua University, observed the distinctive tea culture of the area and then helped to build teahouses. Subsequently, local residents even formed a group called “Build by Ourselves”. The traumatic experience of the typhoon also encouraged the residents to rethink the relationship between the tea industry and nature, which has since led to the eco-friendly cultivation of organic tea. Through art, collaboration between the locals, professionals and artists has formed a unique Tai-He tea culture which has played a vital role in the reshaping of the Tai-He community.
In the exhibition, four different styles of tea tastings are presented by Tai-He villagers with extraordinary skill. The tastings provide seats for travelers while also transforming the space in an aesthetic way. Visitors are invited to bathe in the relaxing atmosphere filled with tea aromas, while embarking on an artistic journey to explore tea culture and life.
國立臺南生活美學館自2020年起動「藝術轉動社區」計畫，由國立高雄師範大學跨領域藝術研究所吳瑪悧教授擔任計畫主持人、國立臺南藝術大學藝術史學系助理教授許遠達擔任策展人，以南部七縣市作為計畫場域，藉由地方資源盤點、案例分析、藝術家進駐、專書出版與論壇等方式，奠定藝術轉動社區的能量，為社區注入翻轉的潛能。
The project “Art For Social Change” is organised by National Tainan Living Art Center since 2020. The project host is Professor Wu Mali of Graduate Institute of Interdisciplinary Art at National Kaohsiung Normal University. The curator is Xu Yuanda, the assistant professor of the Department of Art History at National Tainan University of the Arts.
Based on the featured cases from the seven regions of southern Taiwan, transforming the communities and creating their own potentials by the local resources, case analysis and art-in-residence, book publishing and forums.
