ArtsideOut seeks to supplement Fine Arts program

Artists are often, by nature, solitary creatures. Painters plant themselves in front of easels for hours on end in order to create their craft, musicians barricade themselves in dungeon-like studios to record albums, and writers hunker down over notebooks, typewriters and computers in mental solitude for months on end to pump out an end product they hope will be worth reading.

In spite of these artistic stereotypes, the concept of an "artistic community" is very real, and Seattle University's latest art-centric club, ArtsideOut, aims to build just that sort of society on campus.

Carey Smith, senior visual arts major, describes the group as a holistic approach to a student-organized art club.

"We didn't have any extracurricular, student-involved arts organizations on campus," says Smith, "and it seems like that would be something that's required to have a vital, thriving arts community at any college."

Although both Smith and co-founder Jenny Burrows study visual arts, they have coordinated their efforts to enliven Seattle U's art community with Literary Society and Fragments in hopes of drawing devotees from all artistic backgrounds. Their major endeavor has been the arts show Collision, held in the Campion Ballroom last fall. A free event-like all those that ArtsideOut hosts-Collision displayed original painting, drawing and design work as well as live music and literature readings, all by students at Seattle U.

Collision is co-hosted by ArtsideOut and Fragments, and is scheduled as a once-per-quarter event. Open submissions for upcoming events are announced via the organization's Web site, artsideout.wordpress.com, as well as by their Facebook group and on posters pinned up around campus.

ArtsideOut also offers figure-drawing meetings on the second and fourth Thursdays of every month at 8 p.m. in FINR 206. These relaxed and somewhat informal meetings are free and open to students from all disciplines. Smith and Burrows' other ambitions range from Show and Tell events to more live music shows to intentions to re-design The Spectator's dispenser boxes. These events are based largely on community enthusiasm, and Smith urges anyone with ideas or interest to contact him.

Smith and Burrows believe ArtsideOut provides a much-needed supplement to Seattle U's art program.

"As a small school we felt that we were lacking in student community," Burrows says. "Our department really needs resources." She cites the popularity of Collision and the recent Siena photography show as evidence of student interest in such an environment, but notes the absence, or inactivity, of any coordinated community effort to date. Burrows also notes that it's one thing to talk about art in class with one's professors, but another to have one's work critiqued by peers.

Burrows estimates ArtsideOut's events have seen participation from 50 or more students since its inception this fall. She and Smith identify six to seven students who regularly attend figure drawings and say that many more people rotate in or out based on their schedules and interests-making the organization a great way to meet new people and exchange ideas. Additionally, in an effort to remain available to students of all kinds, the group plans to raise money through campus events, rather than encourage members to pay dues.

Many of the students at last Thursday's figure drawing event were not, in fact, arts majors. Trevor Brown, for example, is a freshmen psychology major who hopes to attend meetings regularly.

"I just like art," he says, "and this gives me a chance to work on my technical skills."

Regardless of specialty, nearly everyone at the drawing event seemed to echo Smith in their reasons for attending.

"We wanted to have a better bond with other students at Seattle U," Smith says.