Grace Vaccaro, Staff Writer
Are you looking for a safe community to explore your creativity? Then look no further than the Artists’ Guild. This club meets every Thursday from 7:00-8:00 pm in Fine Arts 322.
Their E-board consists of Taylor Plue, President; Samantha Castro, Vice President; Tori Heim, Treasurer; Gracie Smith, Secretary; and Roxanne Marmolejos, PR Manager.
Vice President Samantha Castro answered some questions about the club. She joined her Freshman year (back when it was called the Creative Writing Club). This club used to be known as the Creative Writing Club until the president at the time, Zoe, decided it was time for a change. By changing the name to the Artists’ Guild, she hoped it would open the doors to a wider array of talents. Art isn’t just writing; it expands to drawing, painting, music, photography, and so much more.
Zoe believes that “artistry can be found anywhere and is accessible to all.” By changing the name, this club reflects those values. The name change made an immediate impact. Students from all areas of art began to come to meetings — exactly what they were hoping for. The activities during club meetings reflect these changes, with different writing and art prompts each week.
At a typical meeting, the club gets to talk and craft — often going over time having fun. Her favorite memory of the club was when she was a freshman. She felt that the older members acted as mentors to the younger students. Because of that, she was able to learn a lot and grow out of her shell. Now, as a senior, she is the one who is able to mentor the young or new students.
Something that makes the Artists’ Guild so special is the community. Everyone is so welcoming, and there is no judgment, only encouragement. Everyone is celebrated for their contributions, no matter their skill. There is so much inspiration and so many talented people to learn from every night.
The Artist’s Guild encourages everyone to stop by their weekly meetings. On October 29th, in honor of Halloween, they will be wearing Halloween costumes and doing Halloween-inspired prompts. This allows everyone to show off their costumes and have a place to wear them .
I stopped by a couple of meetings last semester and had such a fun time. While my focus is writing, I enjoyed experimenting with art. At one meeting, we made blackout poems; at another, we created mini picture books on the prompt “What is it to be human?” Even if you don’t consider yourself a creative person, you never know what the activities will unlock. Some other activities they have done this semester are poetry, origami, and 15-second group picture drawing. If you have any interests or hobbies, you could have the opportunity to teach others.
Samantha wants to invite anyone and everyone to their club. She called it one of the “lowest commitment clubs” on campus. Anyone can stop by for a single meeting or stay for the entire semester. Joining this club will unlock lifelong connections and creative inspiration.
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