BVU offers art sessions to high school students at “I Do Art” program

Kiley Wellendorf | News Co-Editor

Buena Vista University (BVU) hosted a high-school based, hands-on, art event called, “I Do Art” on Monday, Nov. 25. The workshops, hosted by Buena Vista University (BVU) art, graphic design, and digital media seniors, were all part of their capstone classes Senior Seminar (art and graphic design) and Media Project (digital media).

Cassie Forsyth, a senior graphic design and digital media double major, instructed a workshop called “What’s the Word”, a study of typography and using words as an image.

“As a student, we didn’t really know if these people were interested in going into the art field, or if they were just in an art class and were brought here. Most of the students in my session were very excited to do the workshop, and they were very excited about art and hoped to go into an art field,” Forsyth said.

Each senior art, graphic design, and digital media student was given the opportunity to pick an assistant, who helped provide access to cleaning up, supplies, and overall company during the trials. High school students were dispersed into small groups and were given the opportunity to work through the plans and projects. After the first session, Sodexo provided the students with catered sandwiches, fruit, and other treats as well.

“I’ve helped with a session before, but usually it’s just seniors that do the workshops. We usually try to get other art students involved to help them prepare for their workshop eventually,” Forsyth said.

During this time, a panel of five seniors gave the high school students the opportunity to freely as questions about everything from their experience at BVU to the different assortments of art they enjoyed. Once the panel was finalized, high school students were separated into new groups and brought into a brand new session.

“It’s kind of cool to see how they interpreted the workshop and how they took it their own directions,” Forsyth said.

“I Do Art” involved numerous schools from counties surrounding Buena Vista County. “I Do Art” is brought on every year due to the combined efforts of Senior Seminar and Media Project, and is used as one of the big projects students must complete in this course. While high school students came in empty-handed, many left with white “I Do Art” shirts, projects from sessions, and a taste of what art means to BVU.