There is a new opportunity on the Concordia campus for students to explore their artistic interests, with no prior experience necessary.
Third year student Gabrielle Fritz from Maple Lake Minnesota is the founder and president of Concordia’s newest art club “Cobber Crafts.” Fritz is majoring in Heritage and Museum Studies yet has a deep passion for arts and crafts.
“I really like to do arts and crafts, and there wasn’t really a good place on campus to just do it as a group and to build a community. There’s the art club, but like I said that’s for art majors by art majors.” says Fritz.
“I wanted a chill place where people could come in and be absolutely shame free in their art skill,” Fritz elaborates.
The club plans to have regular meetings on Thursday evenings from 8:00 to 9:00 PM in the Carl B. Ylvisaker Library fishbowl, where members may hang out with friends, work on projects, do homework or just relax.
Fritz’s plan for the club is truly just to “build a community of people who either aren’t sure what they’re interested in or grow in their skill in what they’re interested in throughout the year.”
“No matter what their art skill is, they are cool to come here. Hopefully we all get closer to each other.” she says.
Leah McCracken Anderson, current access service manager to the Carl B, has worked at Concordia for 24 years as staff in the library. McCracken Anderson acts as the Cobber Crafts club advisor.
“Crafting has always been part of my life, sewing was part of my childhood along with 4-H, I have enjoyed learning to knit as an adult and my kiddos (ages 18 and 15) love to try all kinds of crafts from Diamond Dots to Legos, to paint by number, jewelry making and wood crafting. Lately we have been making collages of pictures. My mom has been making and selling crafts since I was a child and is still going strong at local craft shows,” she says.
“I think crafting is a great way for students or anyone to relax. Students will have a calm and peaceful place to gather, chat and make something for themselves,” McCracken Anderson continues.
The next Cobber Craft event will be a Halloween Movie Night, on Thursday Oct. 17from 7:00 to 9:00 PM, in the fishbowl. The movie “Coraline” will be shown in 3D, and 3D glasses, coloring sheets and materials will be provided.
For any questions or concerns, contact Gabrielle Fritz at gfritz1@cord.edu.
