After searching Parrish up and down for the so-called “Big Room” with the most flustered-freshman look one could have, I finally arrived at the music and arts mixer. It was hot, cramped, and filled with people I only sorta-knew. A couple of people were jamming in an open mic setup, and there was a general buzz of excitement in the room.
I settled down next to a familiar face at the S.U.C.K. (Sewing, Upcycling, Crocheting, and Knitting) friendship bracelet station and got to work. After a bit of chatting, Zoe Zuloaga ’29, one of S.U.C.K.’s leaders, showed me and a few other freshmen how to make candy stripe bracelets.
My bracelet was definitely on the less appealing end of the spectrum, as I got about half a row of knots in before making a grave mistake. Not to worry! Friendship-bracelet-making savant and Printmaking Club head Nico Weisberger ’29 was to the rescue! He kindly showed me how to properly make the bracelet as I laughed about the terrible job I did, even offering to undo the incorrect knots I made.
While attempting to make my friendship bracelet, I chatted with people, some of whom I knew and some I didn’t, about art, classes, Swarthmore, our weekends, and our interests. As a first year with orientation week fresh on my mind, it was a relief to talk to people I didn’t know without repeating the classic script of: “Where are you from?”, “What’s your major?”, and “Which dorm do you live in?” Connecting with people that I didn’t know over common interests was a breath of fresh air from the oft-mundane introductory small talk I had been performing seemingly all the time.
Ultimately, I ended the night with something that looked like a jumble of string, but many around me had actual bracelets thanks to the guidance of Zoe and Nico. Perhaps it was just a “skill issue” on my part, but in any case it was clear to me that the club leaders genuinely cared about getting people excited about crafts.
While there, I also spoke with Zoe and Nico about the philosophies of their two respective clubs.
S.U.C.K. hosts weekly yarn circles, upcycling sessions, and workshops showing students how to knit and crochet. The club is a mix of students at all skill levels, from people who have never done any fiber art before to those who just want a space to work on their projects and relax. The Printmaking Club has a similar mix of skill levels, and students can get as much or as little help as they want. Printmaking also hosts workshops introducing students to new mediums such as screenprinting, cyanotyping, and woodblock printing.
By having low-stakes spaces where students can try a new medium with mentorship available and no need to take a class or spend money on materials, arts clubs at Swarthmore lower the barriers of entry and make art more accessible to all students on campus. Art clubs like S.U.C.K. and Printmaking fill gaps left by arts curricula, which deal with very limited mediums. They provide a casual environment to pick up a new skill and give more experienced students designated time to work on their projects.
I left the arts mixer, Cherry Coke and vegan cookie in hand, feeling excited and inspired, breathing in the (literal and figurative) air of Swarthmore’s artistic community. My experience is a testament to the value of events like these, so to the amateur as well as the experienced artist, if you hear about more arts events at Swarthmore, GO!
