EDUCATING ARTISTS

Columbia University School of the Arts

The Big Draw

Low Plaza, Columbia University. October 11, 2016

Drawing is thinking, and thinking is drawing. Everybody draws—from artists to philosophers, dentists, social workers, journalists, therapists, athletes, and engineers. Drawing is central to thought and The Big Draw occurred in the center of the university. This one-day participatory happening encouraged people of all backgrounds to simply draw. Undergraduate sculpture students fabricated an installation, and MFA Visual Arts faculty members Stephen Jackson, Nicola López, Leeza Meksin, Edward Minoff, and Aliza Nisenbaum led guided group and individual exercises with easy-to-use materials such as paper, charcoal, and ink. No experience or expertise was required, and all drawings were equally appreciated and displayed in an exhibition held three evenings later in the LeRoy Neiman Gallery.

Read about The Big Draw in the Columbia Spectator [Link]