Last week, NVU-Lyndon’s Campus Activities Board (CAB) hosted its first Paint n’ Sip of the Spring 2020 semester. According to CAB Advisor Mike Secreti, nearly 60 students attended the event! The Paint n’ Sip has been a popular CAB event since it debuted in the fall. It is an event where everyone can come sit and paint (canvases and paints provided), along with drinking refreshments and hanging out with friends. The campus cash bar in The Hive is even open during Paint n’ Sips for all students over the age of 21, and for those under 21, refreshments such as sodas and mocktail ingredients are available.
Paint n’ Sips are one of the most popular events run by CAB. “Of all The Hive events, the Paint n’ Sips have been the most successful and popular,” Mike Secreti claimed. “It produces a solid attendance every time we host it.”
The space that is used to run the event, The Hive, fills up and eventually overflows out into the Hornets Nest. Students from different majors and years come together to paint in one space. “I love the open space. It is welcoming to everyone, not just those who are painters. It is a wonderful place to socialize with friends and have some great drinks. It has awesome vibes,” Renee Chaples commented.
When attending the event last Thursday, it was immediately noticeable that every table was filled up with a group of people; no one was painting alone. The event is very successful in bringing the community together. “Compared to other events hosted, it defiantly has more of a turnout.” Kaitlin Flannigan commented. “It is much easier and laid back compared to the other larger events like Bingo, but it gathers a large number of people considering the space it is in.”
“Paint n’ Sip is a great event, and my friend Nat always makes cryptic paintings that people around her love. Also, I was able to share some painting wisdom with friends, and they went so they could learn more about painting.” – Sebastian Farmer
This event is not exclusively attended by those in an art-related major. Many other people come and paint even if they don’t have prior knowledge of the skill. Personally, I [Cheyenne-Autumn Reilly] have seen tables full of Outdoor Education, Leadership & Tourism students painting fun landscapes and Atmospheric Sciences students together painting as well. CAB’s Paint n’ Sips have a wide audience from many groups within the school.
The hope is that Paint n’ Sips will become even more successful in the future, especially with Resident Assistants and Peer Leaders partnering with CAB to host these events. The next Paint n’ Sip will be hosted in The Hive on March 12 at 8:00 PM.
Feature Photo by Cheyenne-Autumn Reilly || (Left to Right) Keegan Winchenbach, Sera Falco, and Patrick Wickstrom enjoy time spent together creating art at CAB’s Paint n’ Sips.