Sketching caricatures, fashioning hemp into jewelry, designing bold banners – these are just a few of the artistic endeavors that a new student organization has brought to campus.
Bentley Student Artists (BSA) is not even a year old, but already counts 90 students in its ranks. The group has its roots in an academic society whose members held regular meetings and workshops throughout 2009.
Managerial Economics and Liberal Studies major Christine Varriale ’10 was among those who discovered a passion for artful experimentation.
“I hated to see the workshops end when the year was up,” says Varriale. She approached the society’s founder, Mason Forando ’11, to suggest establishing a permanent student organization. “Marketing is my strong suit, and Mason has a lot of arts programming experience, so we felt we could make a great start.”
Gaining the official nod as a student organization, like any worthy cause, required a significant outlay of time and energy. And competition was fierce: BSA was up against about 15 other candidates, with only two spots open for new groups. The recognition brought BSA $500 for its first semester and the green light to affiliate with the Bentley name.
“It took the whole first semester to put our executive board together, write our constitution, and prepare for the presentation to the ABA [Association of Bentley Activities] and AIA [Allocation and Internal Audit Committee],” says Forando, an Economics–Finance major. “It was very rewarding to win their approval.”
Along with guiding documents and an e-board, the group needed a two-year timeline of potential events and a budget for each semester. The organizers worked closely with Tyler Williams, ABA vice president of organization recognition. Assistant Director of Student Activities Jim Morris, who had mentored Forando on the academic society, fielded questions and helped with logistics.
In addition to co-presidents Forando and Varriale, the executive board comprises Claudia Teran ’12, vice president; Julia Brodowski ’11, secretary; Stephanie Sachetta ’10, treasurer; Rachael Fischer ’11, public relations; Lily Montemayor ’12, web master; Yasi Abdolmohammadi ’12, service chair; and Paul Buccheri ’13, freshman liaison.
BSA members lost no time launching their first programs. An open arts experimentation session invited Bentley students to dabble in drawing, painting and other media. More than 40 students participated in an evening of arts and crafts that Varriale organized with Courtney McShane ’10, a resident assistant for the Falcone Apartments. Students made earrings and bracelets of hemp and beads, and decorated journals with scrapbooking materials. The alcohol-free gathering received a small grant from the campus Center for Health and Wellness.
“It was a good alternative for something fun to do on a Thursday night . . . a good way to take a study break,” says Varriale.
The fall 2010 semester promises to be just as busy. Plans include a campus-wide arts contest with a cash prize, a service project teaching drawing skills to local schoolchildren, and more workshops. A trip to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts is also on the list of possibilities.
“Making art gets your mind thinking in new ways,” says Forando. “We’re really excited to bring more art to campus, and see what we can create.”