Dickinson Community’s Third Annual Art Gallery showcased Binghamton University students’ creativity while providing a moment of refuge for students, in the form of art therapy workshops.
The gallery displays ranged from traditional works such as sculptures, sketches and paintings to more abstract pieces like crayon melted on a board.
The show ran from Sunday to Monday and was hosted by Johnson Hall. Johnson residential assistant Jerry Yang and O’Connor Hall assistant residential coordinator Tamika Gordon organized the show to give artists within the community a way to show off their talents, including an art therapy workshop on Monday.
“We organized this because in Old Dickinson, there was always a lot of art in and around the rooms,” said Yang, a senior majoring in accounting. “The other RAs and I wanted to showcase people’s art. And now it’s our third year doing it.”
For many of the contributors, including Julianne Rocco, a junior majoring in biology, living in Dickinson was a big part of their inspiration.
“I lived in Dickinson last year, and I loved the community. It was friendly and welcoming, and students were really involved,” Rocco said. “There were many opportunities for students to be involved with the community and display their individual talents.”
The show included more than 20 works of art, including paintings and painstakingly drawn pieces referencing “Don’t Stop Believin’.” Julia Gladstein, an undeclared freshman, had work featured in the show.
“Drawing portraits is just really fun and fulfilling for me,” Gladstein said. “Especially if the subject matter is a musician and I listen to their music as I draw them — that’s always a cool experience.”
Aside from the display, arts and crafts activities like mug painting, birdhouse painting and sand art were available for the overworked students to participate in.
“It’s a good way to de-stress,” said Yang. “Just go back to when you were young and all you had to do was color in between the lines.”
Rocco is also minoring in studio art and had paintings on display. She spoke on the benefits of art and its therapeutic benefits.
“I just love art, so that’s why I do it. Art for me is a freedom of expression and cathartic,” she said. “There is no right or wrong way to create art. It just happens. It stems from passion, and no one can change your passion.”
The gallery was also a way for the artistically inclined student to get more involved with the community. Gladstein noted the possibilities of art engaging her peers.
“Any artistic student who may not know anyone with the interest living near their community may find encouragement through seeing the work of other students on display,” Gladstein said. “I think these kind of events are really great ways to let the student body know that there is a thriving group of artists that exists on campus, while they allow the artists to establish a greater presence for themselves.”
Both contributors and organizers said they thought the gallery was a success for the third year in a row, both as a way to showcase creativity and take students’ minds off work and make some art.
“It brings students together who are artists and art appreciators,” Rocco said. “It helps students exhibit their talents, and show that Binghamton is not just a science-oriented school. It definitely exhibits the school’s talent and diversity.”