Earlier this week, Stanislaus State’s Associated Students Inc. (ASI) hosted Pop Paint Night, giving students the opportunity to unwind and let their creativity flow while painting to music. This event was a collaboration organized by Code Red and Stan State’s Art Club, with a DJ playing pop hits from the late 2010s to 2020s throughout the evening.
Held in the Valley Multi-Use Room, the event provided students with mini canvases, easels and a variety of paint colors. Songs by artists such as Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan filled the room, setting a lively tone for the night. The first 50 students received a free hamburger or grilled cheese sandwich from In-N-Out.
Code Red member Jaclyn Pernett (Senior, Communications) said a similar event — R&B Paint Night — was “a big hit” among the students, which inspired the team to bring it back with a twist.
“We decided to change it up by implementing pop music instead of R&B,” Pernett said.
Events like these offer students an outlet to express themselves creatively. Antonio Anzar (Criminology, Sophomore) who attended Pop Paint Night, shared what drew him to the event.
“I like being artistic in my free time, and I like to draw on paper in my room every evening,” Anzar said. “So I felt like this was a good opportunity to come and show my artistry.”
“Art, overall, is really good for mental health,” said Club President Cesar Flores (Art, Senior). “It’s a good way to express yourself — to let go of any anger, any sadness, any kind of deep emotion that might be troubling you — to get your education done.”
Pernett said events like Pop Paint give students a chance to break out of their shells.
“It’s a great way to have the students get out of their comfort zone,” he said. “This is more like a social setting. It’s a great chance to network and meet other students outside of your major.”
Flores added, “Activities like this are a good way to engage students, help one another, basically support each other through something creative.”
Events like Pop Paint Night play an important role in student life by giving students a break from academic stress. Pernett emphasized that the campus hosts events like these for a reason — the college experience should go beyond studying.
“Students should enjoy, make new friends, come hang out with your friends, step out of your comfort zone, and relieve some stress,” Pernett said.
Both Pernett and Flores said they hope students took something meaningful from the event.
“Art is a matter of expressing yourself,” Flores said. “It’s a good tool to get out of your head, to break any of those doubtful thoughts — where you think you can’t make it, or think you can’t succeed. I think art is just a really good tool to help break that barrier.”
“I hope they can kind of leave some of the stresses back at home just for a minute, be creative, enjoy the vibe, enjoy the environment,” Pernett said. “You know, once we graduate, we really don’t have events like this, so just take it all in while you can.”
It’s unclear whether ASI will host a similar event in the future, but students like Anzar said they hope to see more events like Pop Paint Night.
“It gives you free time apart from being in your room studying for hours and hours,” Anzar said. “A few hours in the Student Center can really help you.”
