There are so many fun ways to get involved with art on our campus. From different clubs to different classes, there is something for everyone. For me, I have really enjoyed the class ‘Zines, Chapbooks & DIY with Professor Brooks. Also, all of the events hosted by the RA’s are super fun, engaging, and a great way to meet other people in your dorm as well as getting to know your RA a little better. On my own time, I enjoy making bracelets, painting canvases, making collages, writing poems, and so many other crafts. This semester and last, I have been trying to branch out and have fun with arts and crafts outside of my dorm room with other people. While it is still fun to be able to make anything I want in my room, it is so much more fun crafting with other people on campus.
In my ‘Zines, Chapbooks & DIY class with Professor Brooks, we explore all different kinds of art forms, like collages, ‘zines, poetry and prose. It has been so fun creating my own art that has special meaning to me and combining all different art forms together. It is also really interesting seeing the art everyone else in the class has made. We just began putting together the website for The Cairn, which is an online literary and arts journal that anyone can submit to. As a class, we are redesigning the website to be more aesthetically pleasing and interactive. We are making a new logo and making posters to encourage people to submit their writing and art via a QR code. Personally, I am excited to be able to submit some of my own work and see what other people submit. Historically, The Cairn was on paper, but with everyone and everything moving online, so did it. Anyone is able to submit prose, poetry, and visual media.
In class, we made collages out of newspapers and magazines to represent what different parts of our body feel like the head, stomach, and feet. Everyone’s collages were so different and unique to each person. Next, we designed our own cut-ups from our own writing and also someone else’s writing about anything we wanted to choose. I made a cut-up with an online article about why people do art. It was so cool to see what I turned the writing piece into and how it differed from the original. New meaning is made when you rearrange words and paste them onto a paper. Cut-ups have the power to reveal something about oneself or the future that you did not know before.
Right now, we are also working on making our own one page ‘zines. Historically, ‘zines have been made and passed around to inspire different movements like women’s rights. Since they are so easy and cheap to make, anyone could and still can make them in their own home. All you need is one piece of paper and scissors. Then, once you follow the tutorial online to make the little book, you can put anything inside of it, like your own writing and artwork. I made mine with my own poetry and then I decorated the pages with stickers and crafting tape. I printed out small images of my own paintings and decorated the backside with them. It is so easy and simple to make photo copies of them and then pass them out to friends. It is also a very cool way to meet people with similar interests.
Getting involved in art on campus has been such a rewarding experience for me. Whether through clubs, classes, or RA-hosted events, there are so many opportunities to create and connect with others. My ‘Zines, Chapbooks & DIY class with Professor Brooks has especially opened my eyes to new artistic forms and given me a space to express myself creatively. From making collages and cut-ups to designing ‘zines and working on The Cairn, I have explored so many ways to blend writing and visual art. While I still love crafting on my own, sharing the experience with others has made it even more fulfilling. Art has a unique way of bringing people together and I am excited to continue exploring and sharing creativity with my campus community.