A valentine at UNC Greensboro can be as simple as putting pen to paper or folding that paper into a puzzle box. For student clubs, the holiday is a time to help build a sense of belonging with fellow Spartans.
Valentine’s Day events at UNCG cater to romantic couples, friend groups, and anyone who needs some self-care around the stressful midterms. Some clubs got into the season of love early by making handcrafted gifts. They hope to inspire creativity in all students, no matter their artistic background.
May I Have a Word
The Letter Project provided cardstock and art supplies at the end of January to design candygrams. Students could make one for a loved one or write a message of kindness for other students to buy at the Letter Project’s fundraiser to purchase art supplies.
On February 14, they will host the “Self-Love Valentine Project” in the Elliott University Center’s Azalea Room from 5:30 to 7 p.m., where UNCG students can drop in and create a thoughtful gift for themselves.
The Letter Project, led by social work majors Aalivia Smith and Rachel Tang, encourages writing physical letters in an era when communication is measured by the convenience of texting. Smith and Tang want students to appreciate the power behind a meaningful, handwritten letter.
The club has cultivated a welcoming atmosphere for UNCG students like Rhea Uchil, a business major with a concentration in human resources who heard about the Letter Project from friends last year. “We’re a casual group. You don’t have to stay the whole time, but I usually do because I really like this group of people. I like the vibe.”
The candygrams remind her of the excitement surrounding Valentine’s Day as a kid. “When I was in eighth grade, I was in the choir and we used to do singing grams for Valentine’s Day,” says Uchil. “We would go to classrooms and say we had a candygram for someone, then sing them a little song.”
Uchil says there is no pressure to be perfect in the Letter Project. “I’m not someone who wrote a lot of personal letters before,” she says. “But it’s nice to have all these supplies and a space. It’s truly for yourself.”
Getting Crafty
Students in the Make Cool Stuff club selected two crafts that fit the theme of love and friendship – felt flowers and polymer clay jewelry.
“Giving people flowers for Valentine’s Day is a tradition,” says President Nikolai Tassin. “But I’d made my girlfriend earrings with polymer clay for her birthday. I wanted to encourage other people make something to share with their partners or friends.”
Tassin, a psychology major, started Make Cool Stuff to encourage students to work with different art materials. They meet regularly in the SELF Design Studio, a makerspace overseen by the School of Education’s Assistant Director of the Teaching Resources Center Matt Fisher. It provides the tools for hands-on coursework and fosters an environment of learning by doing. Students don’t need any prior experience in art to join. Tassin and the other club officers give instruction and guidance.
“There’s a common misconception that you have to be born creative,” says Tassin. “I will look at tutorials. I’ll learn from Matt. I’ll look on Pinterest for inspiration. Being creative isn’t necessarily intrinsic. It’s something that you build over time.”
Hidden Layers
More valentines were crafted at UNCG’s Gatewood Art Studios with help from the Artists’ Guild. They made Victorian puzzles for their “D-I-Y Valentine’s Day” event. These intricately folded cards open to reveal a message.
“Working with our hands and our original ideas to create something that is unique to us is something that no mass-produced item can compare to,” says President Viktoria Bonavic, a sculpture and ceramics major.
The Guild connects UNCG art students with the greater Greensboro community. Any student taking at least one art course can join, but many of their events are open to all students. They’ve held pottery wheel-throwing demos and pumpkin-carving fundraisers. In the fall, they have a Winter Sale at Greensboro’s Festival of Lights.
“We do our best as a club to give students as many opportunities as possible to sell their work, learn how to work in the art world, and also meet other students making art through fun, light-hearted events,” says Banovic.
UNCG student groups can spark creativity. They may also spark friendships that last past the holiday. They can move at their own pace in these communities built around support and encouragement. “There’s always an opportunity for connection,” says Uchil. “It’s just about putting yourself out there.”
Bonavic says, “It is important to spread positivity, love, and cheer, and regardless of your relationship status, I really think that is what Valentine’s Day is all about.”
Story by Janet Imrick, University Communications
Photography by Sean Norona, University Communications
