GVL / Ella McClintock
On Monday, Nov. 4, a variety of Grand Valley State University student organizations and University departments collaborated to host Election Stress Art Night. The event, held in the Kirkhof Center’s Pere Marquette Room, provided students with an outlet for artistic expression the night before the 2024 election.
From bracelet making to button making, creative activities appealed to students’ different artistic sensibilities. Tables were set up around the room, which designated specific areas for the options. At the mini-zine making station, colored pencils, crayons and colorful paper were laid out. Attendees were also able to unwind by shaping sculptures and cutting up collages to take home.
GVSU organizations and departments involved included Student Senate, GVSU Votes!, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the Gayle R. Davis Center for Women & Gender Equity, the GVSU Art Museum, the University Libraries and the Padnos/Sarosik Center for Civil Discourse.
“I was trying to come up with a solution that addressed the needs of students very directly,” said Mae Zurita, graduate representative of the Student Senate. “Trying to help students formulate a better relationship with political events can help reduce stress, and by doing so, people can focus on what they need to during the school year. The hope is that this event will help people find an outlet to express their feelings, as well as help them reassess their relationship with political events.”
After exploring their artistic inclinations and discovering new mediums, students were encouraged to contribute to a collective canvas. This piece served not only as a physical reminder of the event, but as a symbol of the connections formed throughout the evening. Small doodles and names were left to represent the positive experience that had been shared.
“I feel like art is expression,” said Henry Fogg, a sophomore at GVSU. “Being able to express your thoughts and emotions in a creative way is great around people who want to express it as well.”
Throughout the evening, many attendees expressed they felt relaxed. Conrad McIntosh, a GVSU sophomore, echoed this sentiment.
“I think this is certainly a brief reprieve from all of the stress and anxiety that the election has provided,” said McIntosh.
Recent statistics have shown that the U.S. population feels increased amounts of anxiety around the time that elections take place. The number of people experiencing election stress has risen to an alarming 68% as of 2020. At this critical time in history, many college students are particularly susceptible to such anxieties. While there are many calming strategies one can utilize in times of stress, accessing the necessary resources can be an obstacle. The facilitators of Election Stress Art Night ensured that supplies would be provided, so students were able to engage in creative freedom without financial barriers.
“The reason it (art) has been highlighted for this event is because one of the major ways that you can deal with stress in many capacities is expression, (and) finding an outlet for your thoughts,” Zurita said. “Basically, if you put your energy into a piece that encapsulates a lot of your anxieties, that gets them (anxieties) away from your mind and into a physical object.”
Considering the programming attracted a broad range of students, more creative resources with the goal of reducing stress may become available in the future for students.