For Colgate University students whose busy schedules prevented them from buying a Valentine’s Day gift ahead of time, there was an easy fix to avoid any heartbreak. On Feb. 12, Muse, a platform to connect student artists and buyers aided by Colgate Entrepreneurship and Innovation, held a pop-up Valentine’s Day Sale in collaboration with Crafter’s Club in the O’Connor Campus Center (the Coop) media room.
The event was a success, with over 100 sales in the two hours that the pop-up lasted. Student artists were excited to share their art with the community and to see other artists thriving. Sophomore Sophie Wohlstadter, an artist who sold her crafts at the event, has participated in Muse events before and enjoys taking the time to enjoy student art.
“I look forward to and prep for these sales months in advance, and I know the other artists do as well, so it’s just amazing to see so much time and effort in creative work all put together in one room,” Wohlstadter said.
Junior Jaeryung Park, the executive director of Muse, commented on its mission as a platform that can make community art accessible and enjoyable.
“Muse’s goal is to cultivate a creative community on campus, and seeing so many artists and creatives having a platform to showcase their work and gain recognition they deserve means a lot to us, and that’s why we do what we do,” Park said. “In our most recent sale, everyone was so excited to buy and admire the craft of their fellow classmates, which was so inspiring and rewarding.”
The role of Muse at Colgate cannot be understated, as having a place for the arts in an academic setting is vital for the well being and humanity of the community. Students like junior Emma Slupik found the event to be the perfect opportunity to step away from academic stressors and appreciate the importance of creativity.
“I really enjoyed going to the Muse craft fair,” Slupik said. “I like being able to see and support the creativity of other Colgate students. It inspires me to be more creative in my own life. I got some really unique gifts for my friends, and I’m excited to attend the next fair.”
Slupik’s comment on the originality of the gifts she purchased reflects the exceptional variety of items sold at the craft fair. With junior Addisyn Donfris selling watercolor cards, junior Morgan Greenwald selling crochet plushies, senior Aleza Falk selling etched jars and vinyl designs and several other artists selling their own individual pieces, the event offered something for everyone.
Sophomore Leigha Schultze creates embroidered tank tops and beadwork, and she was able to sell her work at this year’s Valentine’s Day craft fair while meeting other artists.
“I’m so grateful that Muse provides this space for artists on campus to get together and share their work,” Schultze said. “It’s an overwhelmingly supportive community and a really fun time, both getting to chat about the personal projects you’re working on and getting to ask other artists about their craft. It’s really heartwarming knowing there’s so many students who appreciate the hard work, creativity and love that goes into making the pieces sold at the craft fair.”
Muse is a testament to the capabilities of passionate students and to the power of Colgate Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Making space for students to engage with art brings an air of individuality to our campus that breathes much-needed life and community into our days. For those who didn’t get a chance to browse Muse’s most recent event, the organization plans on hosting another craft fair in the spring where Colgate students can support their peers’ artistic endeavors.
