Paints, brushes, and friends galore: BSU hosts art on the Quad

The Baptist Student Union hosted their biannual session of Art on the Quad Oct. 13.

BSU provided supplies for this event. These included jars of powdered paint, paintbrushes, paper plates and plastic cups which were strewn throughout the grass. Outside this center, several easels held canvases. Some students sat while painting, others stood and others painted and chatted with friends. 

BSU has held this event for several years. Sydney Curran, sophomore and president of BSU, said that painting on the Quad was inspired by the creativity of students. 

“Students have so much to offer and they have so many unique perspectives,” Curran said. “We want to share that students are created with a purpose.”

Curran said that BSU tries to host art on the Quad once a semester when the weather is still nice. 

Junior Dakota Rhoads participated in Art on the Quad. Rhoads said that he decided to paint because it’s something he enjoys but doesn’t get much time to do. 

“Whenever I actually came to painting, I didn’t have anything in mind,” Rhoads said. “[Sometimes] I’ll repaint what I did last time because I didn’t like how it turned out.”

Jasmine Vaile, who is in the process of transferring to the University, joined Rhoads in Art on the Quad. 

Vaile said that when picking a place to live, she wanted a place with a patio or outdoor space for painting and other creative activities.

“I’ve always wanted to paint outside of the house as well, like in a field or the Quad,” Vaile said. “The fact that [the Quad] is so filled with nature, so filled with people, you’re constantly interacting with people that are just walking by.”

Similar to Rhoads, Vaile initially did not have a plan on what to paint when she arrived at the Quad.

Vaile said that she believes that curiosity and a mindset of following the crowd drew several people to Art on the Quad.

“Despite the fact that you’re focusing on something like painting or another craft … being so focused in your work also allows you to pick up small things that you wouldn’t have noticed,” Vaile said. “It gives you an excuse to sit in a space for long enough to just notice.”

Art on the Quad also has a faith-based purpose in mind. Curran said that the posters surrounding the easels were intended to point people to their Creator.

Curran said that Art on the Quad also aims to get people to know that they are loved by others and by God.

“I love walking around and seeing all the different easels,” Curran said. “They’re completely different and that’s such a good representation of how unique we are as individuals.”

Rhoads said that several other students invited their friends to participate in Art on the Quad, often by inviting them to see their paintings.

BSU anticipates having another session of Art on the Quad in the spring semester, likely around April. 

“Usually art doesn’t just come to mind,”  Rhoads said. “It’s something that you have to find inspiration for.”