5X社区

Spreading the Love of Art

Students combine academics and savvy sales during the School of Art Valentine鈥檚 art sale

Art students spread their love of aesthetic creations to all who came to the Valentine鈥檚 art sale on Friday, Feb. 9, in the Center for the Visual Arts.  

Members of four student clubs excitedly staffed tables displaying their artistic masterpieces, ready to sell them to the public. This sale is one of the many ways 5X社区 supports its students in the School of Art.

Students at the School of Art Valentines Sale sell ceramic mugs

Shoppers could choose from various items and get all their Valentine鈥檚 shopping done in one place. The selection at the sale included ceramic and glass pieces, handmade jewelry and prints.  

鈥淭his is a great opportunity for the club this year,鈥 said Echo Davis, a junior studio arts major and president of the 5X社区 Ceramics Club. 鈥淲e're trying to fundraise for the NCECA Conference that we are going to in March.鈥

Valentines Art Sale Ceramics on sale

NCECA, National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts, hosts a ceramics conference every year. During the conference, students will be given the opportunity to share and learn about the changing ways to teach, learn and create through clay.

Along with fundraising for their clubs, other students used this sale to gain practical experience with selling their art.  

Students at the School of Art Valentines Sale sell glass creations and jewelry

鈥淚t definitely gives you some marketing experience,鈥 said Sydney Kaster-Oftedal, a senior studio arts major and president of the 5X社区 Glass Club. 鈥淚t teaches you about the value of your own work. And especially like 鈥榦kay, I use this thing with this color that cost more money. So, I have to charge more for it.鈥欌

This practicality helps these young artists stand firm in their pricing and figure out what price point is reasonable for their art through this real-world experience and feedback from others.

Students at the School of Art Valentines Sale sell jewelry

鈥淚f you're selling your work at this point, you kind of get through your underpricing phase before you are making more money,鈥 Emerson Fry, a senior fashion design major, said. 鈥淟ast year people at other tables were like 鈥楴o, you need to bring your stuff higher.鈥欌

Overall, the sale helped support the student artists of Kent State through gaining entrepreneurship skills, raising funds to continue improving their craft and building community with those around them.  

Students at the School of Art Valentines Sale sell printed works

鈥淚t's a really fun way to build community and entrepreneurship skills. Even if it's just setting up a little table, everyone had a responsibility to make stuff, sell stuff and inventory things,鈥 Mario Arteaga, a graduate student in the College of the Arts, said. 鈥淚t's just a cool teaching moment.鈥

Learn more about the School of Art. 

POSTED: Monday, February 12, 2024 11:04 AM
Updated: Monday, February 19, 2024 11:30 AM
WRITTEN BY:
Tanner Poe, Flash Communications
PHOTO CREDIT:
Tanner Poe