The Art Club is not exclusive to the Picassos and Monets of the world—although those are certainly welcomed and encouraged—it’s for any student interested in art and the act of gathering together as friends. In fact, President Neeti Shah’s favorite part of the club is “how there are different people every time,” and the new experiences that come with meeting such a variety of students.
Founded two years ago by an alumnus, Nikita, the Art Club is still going strong. Their meetings take place every Monday and Thursday from 3 to 4 p.m. in room 0721 of McCormick Hall, located on the third floor. During this hour, members are given a prompt and a brief instruction on the activity before diving into a project.
Projects are chosen through club interest, and members are allowed to post suggestions in a Google Document shared with everyone. In the spirit of Halloween, the club has tackled Oreo carving, mask painting and pumpkin carving throughout the month of October. Future projects include rock painting, pour painting, charcoal drawing and clay making.
No prior experience in art is needed to attend these meetings. Vice President Jillian Mastro assures that members are willing to help newcomers and “give constructive criticism and advice in a fun, respectful manner.” The club’s Social Media Manager, junior Defne Surmeli, concurs.
“Even if you don’t know how to do anything, you can come in and talk and learn,” Surmeli said.
In addition to hosting weekly meetings, the Art Club collaborates with other clubs on campus to create new projects. For instance, they teamed up with the Pokémon Club last year to create their own Pokémons and mingle with new students. Mastro’s favorite projects are ones like these, where the club “mixes art with literally anything and uses it to meet new people.”
Future collaborations include another meetup with the Pokémon Club on Nov. 10 to make soft toys, as well as a meetup with the KPOP Club on Nov. 16 to paint totes and pouches.
Besides casual meetings and exciting collaborations, the Art Club also hosts an Art Fair each year. At the Art Fair, members are able to set up a table and sell their work—jewelry, paintings, embroideries and more—to passersby on campus. All of the proceeds at the fair go back to the artist and help support them and their work. This year, the Art Club is hoping to host a fair once each semester.
It’s clear the club offers students socialization and opportunity to its members, but it also shares other benefits in creating art. New member Reymer Peguero, a senior at UMass Boston, said she likes the “calm environment” of meetings. Dylan Garcia, also a senior, expressed that the club allows for “creativity and expression.” Furthermore, Surmeli believes that “every person finds a unique way to present their emotions and pains.”
“Art has a power, but a gentle power. That power is not punching you, but it is teaching you,” she said.
If you are interested in joining the Art Club, they can be reached through their email, [email protected], and their Instagram, @umbart.club. It is helpful for Shah and Mastro to know ahead of time if students plan on attending a meeting, as they buy supplies and snacks based on the predicted number of group members. Additionally, meetings are not mandatory, so members can easily fit this club into their schedule and attend at their leisure.