The W, CAC to host art festival ‘Under the Oaks’
Mississippi University for Women is partnering with the Columbus Arts Council for the fourth year in a row to bring the Under the Oaks art festival to campus.
Set for Saturday, Oct. 31 from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m., the festival will feature more than 45 vendors, all selling handmade goods, under the Oak trees of Welty Drive. In addition, there will be live music and food trucks on site.
“We are excited to welcome all participants, as well as the community, to The W’s vibrant campus for the annual Under the Oaks Arts Festival,” said Erik Studdard, graphic designer for The W, and one of the coordinators of the event. “With the range of vendors slated for this year, there is sure to be something for everyone.”
The event is free and open to the public.
Since its inception, The W’s Department of Art & Design has been involved with the festival. Last year, Kappa Pi, the art student organization, also had a booth. They sold hand-made W mugs and ornaments as well as some student ceramics. The organization will be doing this again this year.
The departmental table will include art work both for display and sale, however, the main goal of the department’s booth is engagement.
The primary way in which they do this is through the exchange boxes. With the exchange boxes, festival goers can use the provided supplies and make a work of art, and if they choose to place it in the exchange box, they can pick a work of art from the box to keep.
The idea has expanded to include three separate boxes, a free one, a $1 one and a $5 one. The valued boxes include more curated art selections.
“What we do is try to encourage activity,” said Alex Stelioes-Wills, chair of the department. “We’ve done it since the beginning, and we love the festival. It’s grown tremendously, and it’s a perfect time of year for an arts festival. It’s the perfect location, literally being under the oaks, it’s picturesque. I just want to strongly encourage everyone, especially students, to come out and enjoy the event.”
The W mugs will be sold for $25, with a $5 discount for W staff, and the ornaments are $15.