The KSC Art Collective held its first meeting of the semester on Friday, April 4, in the L.P. Young Student Center’s Atrium Conference Room, after a near semester-long hiatus resulting from ongoing leadership challenges.
An internal email sent to club members in January stated the club would not be returning in the spring 2024 semester due to “unforeseen circumstances” that were discovered to be a lack of incoming club leadership, according to previous reporting by The Equinox.
The Art Collective previously met in the Redfern Arts Center but will be moving to the Student Center’s Atrium Conference Room to offer a more convenient location for members. The club will continue to meet from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Fridays.
Art Department Chair Jonathan Gitelson succeeded former Emily Lambert, an assistant professor of Art and Design, as the group’s advisor. Two KSC students have announced their candidacies for the roles of president and vice president.
First-year Tyler Vose is running for president, and sophomore Grayce Wucik is running for vice president. The Art Collective plans on formally electing new student e-board members within the coming week, and are seeking student interest for the roles of secretary and treasurer.
Vose said the Art Collective’s future looks bright, despite the nearly semester-long absence.
“While we did miss out on a lot by getting it started this late in the semester, we’ve also put ourselves in a good position to prepare for next semester,” Vose said. “Right now we’re using what time we have left to set the stage for an amazing and fun-filled fall semester, while also making the most of the time we have left before this one ends.”
Vose said the club is meant to be a welcoming space for anyone with an interest in art, regardless of degree program or artistic level of skill.
“I’ve heard so many people hear about us and say they aren’t an artist, but always had fun doing art,” Vose said. “I can’t stress enough that this is not just for artists. This is a safe, open and laid-back space for anyone of any artistic level to hang out, make friends and come together to make art without judgment, critique or a grade attached. That’s what’s really at the heart of our mission.”
Wucik said the club’s new direction will bring exciting elements to the table, but ultimately remain similar to what previous members are accustomed to.
“We’re going to keep things relatively similar to what has worked in the past in terms of activities, crafts, and setting up tables at club fairs. We’d like to keep it relatively similar for students who’ve participated in the past, but we want to add our own flair to build upon things,” said Wucik.
Wucik said she and Vose worked diligently to restart the club after learning of the leadership vacancies.
“[Vose] and I have been really focusing on getting this back since we found out it was in jeopardy,” Wucik said. “Even before the email was sent out in January, I had been thinking about how the loss of leadership would affect the club’s future. I was glad to hear that [Vose] was also passionate about keeping things running.”
Junior Kaitlyn Ferdinand attended the meeting and said the club interested her.
“I like that it has a lowkey feel, and gives us a chance to just have fun, make friends and be artistic without having some of the strict and rigid responsibilities of other clubs. It seems a lot more relaxed and seems like a peaceful experience,” said Ferdinand.
Sophomore Wren O’Brien also attended the meeting and said the Art Collective can be a space for people to recharge their interest in art without external pressure.
“When you’re doing something for a grade, it can burn you out no matter how much you enjoy it,” O’Brien said. “That can really push you away from the passion that drove you to it in the first place. When you have the chance to just do something you enjoy as a hobby, it has a way of reminding you why you love it in the first place.”
Ryan Pacheco can be contacted at
rpacheco@kscequinox.com
