In a dimly lit room, rustic brooms and something suggestive of a banjo dangle from the ceiling, black and white photos adorn the walls and a cardboard chair sits atop its spherical platform. Each work of art, whether stained glass or wood, displays an amount of creativity and skill.
The brooms were handmade by Hilary Kinlaw, a senior in arts applications. Joseph Williams Miller, a freshman in mathematics, made the “Doodle Bass.”
Likewise, the rest of the gallery is filled with artwork done by none other than students — with majors so varied, their only commonality lies in that they all have taken classes offered at the Crafts Center.
“The artwork is really amazing,” Michelle McQuade, a freshman in psychology, said.
McQuade said she was surprised by the quality of the artwork turned in by ordinary students. She works as a front desk attendant at the Crafts Center.
Though she said she considered all pieces well done, her favorite piece is the two brooms, “Appalachian Twins,” by Hilary Kinlaw.
On a tag placed below the brooms, Kinlaw wrote a short note about her experience at the Crafts Center.
“The quirky, laid-back atmosphere of the Crafts Center has been a highlight of my undergraduate career. … I have been exposed to many amazing craftsmen,” she wrote.
Kinlaw took the Appalachian Broom-making workshop last fall.
“I thought it would be a fun class and something I would never have the opportunity to do again,” she said.
The Crafts Center has something for just about anyone interested in creating. Classes include woodworking, clay, jewelry and gemstones, fibers, art on paper, photography, optics, flat glass and, of course, broom-making.
Kinlaw and McQuade both agreed the Crafts Center is a unifying aspect of the diverse campus.
“It brings together skilled craftsmen and novices, and they learn and grow with each other,” Kinlaw said.
The Crafts Center Gallery is hosting “A Show For Students” from Feb. 12 to Mar. 18.
The exhibit is the last of its kind before the Crafts Center relocates due to the renovations of Thompson Theater, where it now resides.
“The student show is a perfect close to the much loved gallery space at the Crafts Center,” Kinlaw said.
