Art club witnesses post-COVID resurgence

A CSB+SJU club is making art more accessible to students of all academic backgrounds.

Though art club has existed at CSB+SJU for over 50 years, enrollment dropped significantly in the last three years as a result of the pandemic. Now, however, students are taking the initiative to revive the club and recruit new members.

CSB junior Liv Henson currently serves as the club’s president and, along with senior vice president Maggie O’Donnell and advisor Steven Lemke, is making strides to increase the club’s presence across campus.

Lemke, who graduated from SJU in 2008, was the president of art club his senior year and was heavily involved in its restructuring during his time at St. John’s. Now, 15 years later, he is witnessing a parallel.

“I mean, it’s the kind of joy that I never even knew I could ask for because it just fills me with all this pride, not for anything I’ve done, but the fact that the club is moving forward and exists today,” Lemke said. “It is a testament to our club execs who have come together to brainstorm new ideas, connect with their fellow students and really get the club off the ground again.”

The biggest struggles with getting the club up and running were administrative duties.

“After COVID, we had to figure out how to access our club funds and email, not to mention promoting interest within the student body,” Henson said. Secretary last year, Henson is excited to increase collaborations between other clubs and organizations. The club recently finished a mural commissioned by the Sustainability Office to be unveiled on Oct. 19.

“Collaborating with other groups of people is so important because art extends beyond a specific individual or organization. We will be hosting a paint ‘n sip with Stop @ Buzzed in November, as well as making Christmas cards with the pre-med club this upcoming holiday season,” Henson said. “On a college campus, students have access to so many activities; we want to bring attention to the ways in which art is intersectional across different disciplines.”

Lemke believes art club serves as a bridge between the personal and the professional–whether you’re going into art, medicine, science or any number of different fields.

“We aim to help students integrate art into their vocation. You certainly gain skills in your area of expertise, but there is something to be said about the transferable skills gained through a creative outlet–public speaking skills, critical thinking skills, problem solving skills–and the advantage they give you long after graduation,” Lemke said.

The club’s most recent event, Painting with Bob Ross, filled every seat in the classroom, with students of different backgrounds and levels of expertise coming together to enjoy the restorative powers of art.

“It really is a form of relaxation,” Henson said. “I know students who are biology majors or on the pre-med track who come and paint as a way to take a break from the stress of everyday life.”

In the future, Henson hopes to showcase Bennie and Johnnie art across both campuses. The club plans to host a student art show in coordination with the Donald McNeely Center for Entrepreneurship after Thanksgiving as a way for students to showcase what they are proud of and gain exposure.

Though Lemke is involved in the brainstorming process, it is really the students who take initiative and turn plans into actions.

“One of the really cool things about my working relationship with this club is that we’ll have sessions where we brainstorm together, and I’ll mention ideas that I have either heard of or done in the past, like the art sale,” Lemke said. “And then what they do is take those ideas and they run with it, thinking about how they can make it theirs, and how they can have it serve our community and our students.”

Art club meets biweekly at 6 p.m. on Tuesdays in SJU’s art building. Anyone is free to join, and those with questions can reach out to Liv Henson at ohenson001@csbsju.edu.

“Art club is for students of all majors and minors,” Henson said. “It is important for students to have a creative outlet because it provides a different perspective with which to view the world. Not to mention, it is a lot of fun.”