The first Art Jam of the fall semester, hosted by the University Student Union (USU), attracted many students to Plaza del Sol on Sept. 2. Students immersed themselves in a variety of activities offered at the event.
Art Jam brought out students’ creative sides with activities that included decorating license plates, wooden jewelry boxes and vinyl records. Students also lined up for free, personalized rice bowls, including free drinks to quench their thirst.
Vannessa Vergara, a junior at CSUN, is one of the many students who found this event to be stress relieving.
“I came from a very stressful class, so painting this relaxes me,” Vergara said.
The USU also provided seating under the canopy tents to accommodate the event attendees and ensure every student stayed cool and comfortable.
One of the most popular activities of the day was the Build-Your-Own license plate station, led by junior Smrutj Patel. The booth provided students with a blank license plate and a variety of trinkets and stickers to customize each plate.
“We got a lot of cute gems and little things they can decorate with, and hopefully they have a good time,” Patel said.
Students decorated their license plates according to their tastes with some even color-coding them to match their cars. Other students started working on their jewelry boxes and vinyl records, using the provided paint and stickers to decorate.
The atmosphere this event provided was one of the most influential parts of the whole event, prompting students gathered around tables and sharing supplies to talk to other students they hadn’t met before, creating new friendships while painting.
Additionally, the event wasn’t limited to visual artwork, but even featured a live band in attendance, filling the space with lively energy. Telepathic Birds, the new-wave pop band based in Los Angeles, brought their uniqueness and talent to the Plaza, enamoring students as they painted and ate.
Natalie Perez, a sophomore at CSUN, shared her experience listening to the live band as she worked on her canvas.
“The band helps me keep my energy up instead of making me tired so I can finish this license plate,” Perez said.
While some students worked on their designs, others continued conversations as they listened to the band. The vibrant music encouraged more students to participate.
Beyond the artwork and creativity, events such as Art Jam provide a space that brings students together, especially those who have just transferred from another college or are in their first year, emphasizing the importance of community.
This event showcased how artwork can bring students together in a fun, joyous and creative way. Students from different majors and campus communities can use this event as an opportunity to come together as one group to enjoy, create and appreciate art in all its different forms.
As the music died down and the event closed, attendees gathered to help the USU staff clean up and put away the tables, solidifying the sense of community built at the event, and serving as a token of gratitude from those who attended.
