Students created art on Thursday at the last session of "Art Space: Culture, Collage and Fun," a program during which students use a group collage to learn more about experiences on campus and in the classroom.
"This program is really cool, [because] before coming here I used to sit in my room and just do homework," Renee Dirksen, a freshman business major, said. "I soon became frustrated, so I came down here and I am having fun socializing and meeting a lot of new people who I have a lot in common with."
The program was located on the first floor lounge in LaFollette Complex's Mysch/Hurst hall. This was the program's first year.
Pei-Yi Lin, a psychologist at the Counseling Center, created the program. She said she has been using expressive art in individual and group counseling. In the past two semesters, she has had an art therapy group and the outcome was very positive, she said.
Students created masks with paper plates, Play-Doh and markers. They also finger-painted decorative and colorful collages.
Displayed around the room were the collages they did during weeks one and two.
"The first week, students created collages of their Ball State perspectives on campus," Lin said. "Last week, the students created group collages that addressed diversity by cutting out pictures from magazines."
Many students said they enjoyed laughing, eating and taking a break from their busy schedules and homework.
"You get kind of stressed out in school, with all of the assignments and things you have to do," Heather Sparks, a sophomore social work major, said. "It is really nice to have fun sometimes and create artwork with your friends."
Emily Mastroiammi, a second-year ambassador student in clinical mental health counseling, said sometimes the international students can get lost in the mix or separated from domestic students and having them interact is really important and a great experience for both students.
"I help with international conversation hour, and I know that students have a great experience there," Mastroiammi said. "The more pockets of community and mingling you can have, the better."
Throughout the program, students continued to interact with each other, laugh and make new friends. Bobby Steele, hall director of Mysch/Hurst, said he believes the program gives students an opportunity to relieve stress and learn about other cultures.
"It is very important for students to interact with other ethnicities, since in the work force they are going to have to work with a lot of different people," Steele said. "And they can learn a lot of new things from them."
Steele also said that this program gives students something to do that is more fun than going out and doing activities that might not be positive.
"This program is really exciting. I have come to each session every week and learned a lot and meet a new group of friends," Keith Lidster, a freshman social studies education major, said.
At the end of the program, students presented their collages. Many created masks and pictures expressing how they felt. Some students said they are looking forward to participating next year.
"Students can meet new people, de-stress from classwork and express themselves by drawing creative artwork," Kathleen Niegocki, a second-year psychology doctorate student, said. "Next year, we are hoping to continue this program."
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