The Science Fair Project, a pop-rock band of UCF students, performs live at CAB’s “Art Fest” in the Student Union Patio on Thursday.
Valentina Solorzano
Live music could be heard from the Student Union on Thursday afternoon as students browsed crochet pieces, prints and canvases at “Art Fest,” hosted by the Campus Activities Board.
Students and organizations set up tents to advertise themselves and sell their art in a market-style showcase. CAB welcomed all students to its booth, where they could paint canvases with an extra challenge and get free smoothies. The event invited any student musicians to audition to play live.
Jazmin Wiggins, a senior studio art major, was selling paintings, stickers, prints and more. She said she enjoys connecting with her community.
“The best part of it is getting to connect to the community I’m a part of,” Wiggins said.
Wiggins said she appreciates the camaraderie that comes from student markets such as this.
“I have people who know me from last year, from markets,” Wiggins said. “I feel like we have our own market community in a sense.”
Another student vendor, Nancy Rubio, junior psychology major, spoke on her experience selling to fellow students.
“Everyone has been very receptive to the prices, and I’ve gotten a lot of people who just like the art,” Rubio said.
Rubio sells handmade press-on nails and beaded jewelry. She said that while handcrafting her jewelry can be difficult, the work is meaningful because it makes her feel closer to her Mexican roots.
“A lot of Hispanic cultures have some form of beaded jewelry art,” Rubio said. “I feel connected because I know it is part of my culture, and I definitely want to start doing more traditional styles.”
Matthew Payan, freshman psychology major, attended the event and thought it was cool to see the different students’ art.
“I come from a place where the art scene is non-existent at all, so it’s really cool that you can walk around and see people have art everywhere,” Payan said.