SJC Long Island students embraced their creativity last week during a “Tote and Paint” event in recognition of Women’s History Month.
Asma Hosein ’23, a child study major, left, and Samantha Varone ’22, a psychology major.
Local artist Andres Gallardo led the Office of Student Involvement, Leadership and Intercultural Engagement-sponsored event, showing students how to use paint and stencils to create works of art on reusable tote bags.
Students brushed a layer of black paint onto a plain tote bag. Then, Gallardo helped them use a stencil and spray paint to imprint the face of an influential woman on the bag.
Alessandra Domingo, assistant for Student Involvement, Leadership and Intercultural Engagement, said she came up with the idea for the event after seeing Gallardo’s work on Instagram. She said she thought painting tote bags with images of female role models would be a great way to honor women’s history.
“I wanted the event to be interactive and creative,” Domingo said. “There’s no rules, which is exactly what I wanted!”
Asma Hosein ’23, a child study major, agreed that the event was a fun way to relax between classes and honor Women’s History Month.
“I thought it was creative and brought students together to celebrate women!” said Hosein, as she decorated a bag with an image of Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai.
The hardest part was picking which influential woman to adorn her bag.
“I chose Malala because she’s an icon,” she added. “I think I’m going to do RBG (former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg) next!”
Check out pictures from the “Tote and Paint” event:
Artist Andres Gallardo demonstrating how to paint the tote bags.
Alice Cruciani ’22
Asma Hosein, left, and Samantha Varone
From left: Alice Cruciani, Emily Armanda, Michael Antonacci, Asma Hosein and Samantha Varone.
Alice Cruciani paints a tote bag.
Andres Gallardo helps Asma Hosein spray paint her tote bag.
Michael Antonacci shows off his tote bag.
