The MSU College of Arts and Letters held it’s fifth annual drawing marathon, where artists from across the university can come and get involved. Students worked on collaborative murals and sketched models in front of the Kresge Art Center on Thursday.
Covered in charcoal and paint, studio art senior Jane Sasso worked on her artwork among dozens of other artists sketching on the collaborative art boards strewn across the Kresge Art Center front lawn on Thursday afternoon for the MSU Department of Art and Art History Drawing Marathon.
“I’ve been here since 10:30 a.m.,” Sasso laughed. “I used to skip class to come here because I just love drawing.”
The MSU College of Arts and Letters has been hosting the drawing marathon for five years, but this is the first year they are partnering with (SCENE) Metrospace, 110 Charles St.
All MSU students were welcome to join in the marathon, which ran from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and supplies were handed out to those who chose to jump in, said Robert McCann, an assistant professor of art.
About 50 people were at the event in the early afternoon.
“We’re trying to open up the definition of drawing, so it kind of allows people to access it from different perspectives,” he said. “One of the ideas of (the art marathon) is to open the department to the campus. It helps the visibility of the artists, and it’s a way to suggest that drawing isn’t just what you learn but what you see.”
Many students attended the event with their classes, but several said they would be at the drawing marathon regardless of whether their class brought them there or not.
“I’m taking a semester off, but I love drawing,” Sasso said. “It’s nice to have the break from class, but I was just sad I couldn’t draw. I would have been here anyway.”
Beyond the community art boards were costumed models, standing in front of a sea of easels. One was clothed in Victorian-era dress complete with powdered wig, and another was in a lobster costume. They posed with umbrellas and chairs to allow the artists in front of them the opportunity to draw a live model.
Interior design sophomore Kristen Giuffrida was happy to have the models, which allowed her to shift her focus to something more real.
“Before the models came out, we were basically doing abstract work, but this is much better than still life,” she said.
As the day went on, the collaborative art boards began to fill up with artwork from many different perspectives, including dragons flying around giraffes and superheroes battling with trees.
“It’s really interesting to see the different styles all coming together,” Giuffrida said.
After the drawing marathon ended at 6 p.m., the event shifted to the Metrospace art gallery, where two drawing exhibits were on view, and drawing activities continued.
“The partnership with (SCENE) Metrospace is one that we hope will continue to draw attention to artists and benefit the college,” McCann said.
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