Luther Artist’s Collective creates community for student artists

After a brief hiatus, Art Club is back, but with a new name: the Luther Artist’s Collective. LAC held its first meeting earlier this fall during which they elected officers and became an official campus organization.

Luther’s Art Club faded out a few years ago and turned into Art Scan, a magazine that is circulated on the Luther campus, at the Cafe Magpie and at the Oneota Community Co-Op.

This year, Visiting Assistant Professor of Art Ben Moore (‘02), LAC’s advisor, wanted to bring the art department closer together. At the beginning of the semester, he contacted art students about getting the club going again.

“This is a resurfacing of what Art Club used to be,” said LAC President Sarah Nance (‘09).

Other members agreed.

“We come together and share in our art-making,” said Ryan Kitchen (‘11), LAC vice president.

Also headed by Secretary Laurel Whitis (‘10) and Treasurer Lauren Schuur (‘12), LAC meets every Thursday at 8:30 p.m. in the Korsrud Heating Plant. Located next to Ockham House, this is a building which houses several art department offices and studios open to all art students.

LAC’s purpose is to inform students about contemporary artists, to encourage students to take advantage of the artistic opportunities available and to build a stronger sense of community within the art department.

“We see how close the music department is and we want a support network like that,” Nance said.

Building that same bond the music department has in the art department has proved challenging.

“In music, you practice alone but then come together as an ensemble,” said Nance. “With art, you’re always just practicing your own instrument.”

LAC also meets to critique student work, giving students more chances to get feedback on what they’re doing.

“I think it’s been pretty effective,” Moore said. “The critiques are candid and constructive. It’s different outside of the classroom, and it’s good to find people and talk about artwork.”

In its short existence, LAC has definitely played a part in building stronger bonds between artists on campus.

“I went the first time because I wanted to find more people who shared my passion for art,” Kitchen said.

LAC has a bulletin board in the CFA next to the theatre/dance department call board. It has information about upcoming lectures as well as whose art will be critiqued at meetings.

The group is now taking dues, which will go toward getting more art speakers on campus and taking trips to museums or galleries. The group is also planning to hold an art sale in the spring to give art students another opportunity to sell their work.

There are roughly 15 active members in LAC currently. Although most of the members are art majors and minors, the group is open to all students. Anyone interested in joining can email Nance at nancsa01@luther.edu.

“We want to provide a student community for people interested in art, not just majors or minors,” said Nance.