216 Pride and Paint helps students relax

Photo by Briana Contreras

Anyssah Johnson and Benny Smith continue to work on their paintings of the Cleveland skyline during the Campus Activities Board 216 Pride and Paint event on Thursday, Jan. 26.

Wine and Canvas ---- minus the wine and add some cookies ---- came together with the Campus Activities Board (CAB) Thursday, Jan. 26 for a guided painting event for Cleveland State students.

The campus event 216 Pride and Paint was created by Lina Billings, Pride and Spirit Chair of CAB. Its purpose was to bring students together on campus in a different way, according to Billings.

CAB partnered with Wine and Canvas, an art class based in Strongsville that instructs customers step-by-step to paint a featured painting during one session. They welcome people of all ages, with any experience or none.

It challenges the participants’ creativity to complete their own art and gives them the chance to have fun while doing it. An instructor from the art class guided students in Cleveland State’s Glasscock Family Foundation Ballroom to help them each create a painting that paid homage to the city of Cleveland.

“As far as I know, an event like this is very new to campus and new to my position,” Billings said. “The Pride and Spirit Chair is meant to build spirits throughout campus and normally we do that through athletics.

"I wanted to have an event that was more artsy, one that students could take home and put it in their dorms to set a reminder that [they] students are from downtown [Cleveland]. This is their city; this is the land.”

Pride and Paint had limited participation and students had to sign up to take part. Billings said they had limited spots because she wanted to make an event that was more intimate for students.

“I think an event like this is a bit more meaningful," Billings said. "It’s one to take home with you and create a lasting memory on our campus. Without the events that CAB has, campus would be dull.”

Sarah Roberts, a senior Promotional Communication major, said that Pride and Paint was a fun event that gave her some time to relax and enjoy herself.

“The instructor mentioned by the end [of the event] that she is an art therapist," Roberts said. "It helped us recognize how we were all able to put aside our stress and live in the present for a while. It was a great excuse to be creative, laugh and walk away with a cool keepsake that represented the City of Cleveland.”

The next event hosted by CAB is Game on With CAB, February 9 in the Student Center Atrium. For further CAB events follow CSUCAB on social media or Cleveland State’s CLECalender.