On Sept. 18, the Center for Student Engagement and Campus Event Board hosted Artist’s Alley in the Student Union.

CSE and CEB collaborate to foster a sense of community among students, creating pathways for personal growth and development.

The Artist’s Alley saw an impressive turnout with over 30 students highlighting their unique creations. Each vendor had the opportunity to personalize their tables, allowing them to embrace their individuality.

The event featured a diverse range of offerings, including jewelry, paintings, posters, clothing and crochet items.

Sarah Redding, a junior at UT, displayed handcrafted paintings on her table. Other items she had that grabbed students’ attention were pottery, bookmarks and free candy.

To reach her current position, Redding explored various classes to discover her passions. Before settling on a major in studio art she tried pottery classes, but she found that it was not the right fit for her.

It was in her art classes that she discovered her love for painting. She is a fan of The Muppets which often feature as characters in her work. Additionally, she excels at painting dramatic, detailed skies.

“I would say my style is playful, colorful and I try to bring a character out of each of my pieces whether that is like through an actual figure or just like the style choices,” Redding said.

Redding went through another change in direction as she was inspired by her studies as an art major.

“The longer I have been in these classes, the more I am like — this is it,” Redding said.

Considering that art supplies are expensive, this event created an opportunity for these vendors to earn some money for their products.

Redding spoke on her process for deciding the prices for her pieces.

“I paid for the supplies and I should have thought more about that but me personally, I’m a very cheap person,” Redding said. “I’m not going to pay $50 for something unless I really love it.”

Students majoring in art often miss the chance to see the creations of their peers in other art classes. Redding spoke on one of the benefits of what this event brings to her.

“I have seen a lot of people (who) I haven’t met before, and so they are not only discovering my art but everyone else’s,” Redding said. “I just think that is so cool.”

Emmy Sinclair, a super senior studying forensic anthropology, spoke on why this event is helpful for students.

“I just think it’s really cool giving students an opportunity to do something like this for free, whereas most markets are pretty expensive to attend, and also it being outside of the Student Union lets more people just get involved,” Sinclair said.

Sinclair sold beaded jewelry from their brand Beaded Pride. Their products are solely based on the idea of embracing one’s authentic self. Some of their products included earrings that represented pride flags.

“My brand Beaded Pride is handmade for all,” Sinclair said. “I kind of want to make everyone feel included.”

This idea to sell and design jewelry derived from one of their family members.

“She taught me how to make it, so I’ve just kind of started picking it up again,” Sinclair said. “It is kind of a family tradition.”

The plaza just outside of the Student Union created a lively environment that was well-suited for this event. With live music playing in the background, students mingled and enjoyed the atmosphere.

There were also a few furry friends including Smokey, UT’s mascot. This vibrant scene contributed to a welcoming experience for everyone.