Every week, the Titan Student Union Grand Stair Studio transforms into an art studio where Cal State Fullerton students can unwind. Associated Students hosts these craft lessons to provide essential downtime needed for students’ overall health and mental wellness.
Led by ASI art and exhibition programmers, ASI advertises these workshops via their website, posters that can be found around campus and their Instagram page.
“I love to make (art) in my free time and so having a structured craft that is new to me with supplies provided for free is really appealing,” said Puck Essers, a third-year transfer and studio arts major. “I love talking to other people about what they’re making and seeing how other people follow the instructions, but in their own way.”
During school breaks and sessions in between semesters, the student art programmers work with managers to schedule out the dates, times and activities for the months to come.
“I really like the idea of students having a place to de-stress,” said Brooke Ramirez, a fourth-year human service major and ASI art programs and exhibit lead. “I’m not an art major, but being in my field of mental health, I think it’s very important for students to have the opportunity to have a space where they can just come to and create art without any worries.”
ASI aims to host these events to provide CSUF students with a space to come as they are and release their creative outlet. Where class load and academic stress may get in the way, these workshops provide the space, materials and guidance that is needed to foster any and all creative potential.
Essers said that, as a student who lives in the campus dorms, these events are very easy to attend and he would recommend that any student should make their way over, even if you aren’t a crafty person.
“I was already working another job at ASI and I noticed that I was going to a lot of the craft events,” said Sage Ginorio, a fourth-year communications advertising major and ASI art program instructor. “I was attending these exact workshops weekly before I ended up joining on and knew that it was an open position.”
The art projects this past week included trinket dishes on Wednesday, as well as button making and 3D painting on Thursday.
Students take turns using a machine to solidify and complete their creations. (Sophie Bright / Daily Titan)
The trinket dish making that took place at 1 p.m. saw a particularly large number of people. Students who arrived later in the hour were even being turned away due to lack of space.
“I want to say we see between 15 to 20 people,” said Alina Aguilar, a fourth-year animation major and ASI art program and exhibition assistant. “When it’s a really popular craft I think the most we can fit in the room is 30.”
Wednesday’s craft entailed sculpting dishes of all shapes and sizes out of air dry clay. The following day, students drew original doodles to then be pressed into their very own, one-of-a-kind buttons.
Immediately after, some people stayed while newcomers were welcomed in to create 3D paintings made of cardboard to give their masterpieces an extra “pop.”
ASI plans to hold a special “Late Night Paint Night” located in the pub beside the TSU bowling alley rather than in their common location of the Grand Stair Studio. This event is being held on March 18 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in lieu of the afternoon time slot.
“The more people that we get and that are interested, we see that people like doing this,” Aguilar said. “We’re grateful that people like coming to our workshops and spending their time here.”