Wellness Center Hosts Open Art Studio Event

On Mondays the Wellness Center hosts an Open Art Studio for students to attend. It is scheduled every Monday from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.unless it is a national holiday. The Art Studio focuses on providing space for creativity and “not under the guise of making something to look beautiful but having a place to process emotions, feelings, and having a deeper connection with the community,” said Naimah Thomas, a clinical case manager of the Wellness Center, art therapist and artist.

Thomas said that the Open Art Studio was inspired by an art therapy studio in Evanston, Illinois called Open Studio. Thomas never throws away art because she celebrates the process more than the product.

The event is open to various artforms, such as crocheting, painting and coloring to name a few. Thomas said the purpose for the event is, “to create art together and make space.”

The goal is to decrease isolation and anxiety and increase visibility to the Wellness Center. The open studio tries to help anxiety when it comes to creating art and break societal boundaries when people try to join the art community.

The art studio markets through Instagram and word of mouth. On Instagram, they post pictures of students' artwork. The Wellness Center also plans to market the open studio and other events in the City Colleges of Chicago events calendar. 

Naimah Thomas displays her Blackout Poetry at the Open Art Studio. Photo Credit: Daria Nowak