The good thing about art is that one doesn’t have to be an artist to be a part of something creative. Arts Alive San Diego State allows students all over campus to participate in all forms of innovative art-making.
According to its mission statement, Arts Alive provides opportunities for students, faculty and staff to interact with art as part of an arts-rich, educational community on campus.
“We do this by finding opportunities to make campus arts even more visible,” social media coordinator Jessica Ordon said.
Arts Alive promotes the arts on campus in many different ways.
The organization hosts several interactive pop-up performances and events around campus. Events take place outside of the Love Library, Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre, Thursday’s farmers’ markets or the music building.
“We promote the arts by giving everyone an opportunity to participate in art-making, whether it is at our Thursday jewelry-making booth at the farmers’ market, in a class or even via social media,” Ordon said.
The jewelry and metalwork event takes place from 12-2 p.m. every Thursday at the farmers’ market until Dec. 3. Students can join other students and faculty in SDSU’s jewelry and metalwork program to design their own wearable works of art. Students can create anything from a dog tag to a bracelet to wear and remind themselves of their individual creativity.
“Arts Alive allows individuals to get involved on campus in a fun way that can expose them to different cultures and arts,” public relations senior Asael Ruelas Vaquera said.
Other upcoming events include a clay and metal sale from 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. on Nov. 17 and 18 at the lobby of the School of Art and Design building. Student work from the clay and metal program will be showcased and sold to students wanting to add an artistic touch to their surroundings.
The organization works with the School of Theatre, Television and Film, the School of Art and Design, the School of Music and Dance and the university’s creative writing program. Between these programs, more than 350 arts-related events happen during the academic year, Ordon said.
One upcoming Arts Alive music event is the Electronic Music Marathon from 5-9 p.m. on Dec. 9 at the Smith Recital Hall. At the concert, students can watch performances of electronic music composed by students from the School of Music and Dance program.
Arts Alive also has a new musical in collaboration with the SDSU theater students and the La Jolla Playhouse in the works.
Arts Alive also spotlights many other diverse programs that students might not know about, such as SDSU’s opera program, a furniture design and woodworking program, and the SDSU Downtown Gallery near the Museum of Contemporary Arts San Diego.
“Arts Alive is here to make a big deal out of these programs so that more people are aware and can enjoy them,” Ordon said.
With all of these forms of art made available by Arts Alive SDSU, students can easily get involved and stay in touch with the hidden talents on campus.
