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By Sarah Daponde, publications intern

The Center for Inclusive Excellence is always a bright hub of activity on ���ϲ�����’s campus. It is a welcoming place for all, and on Oct. 14, it became a space for artistic minds to gather and create.

Stepping foot into their annual LGBTQ+ Paint and Sip event, the tables were filled with friends, and strangers meeting for the first time, sharing pallets of paint and an array of brushes.

Emma Laurie, program coordinator for the CIE, said this event is held annually during LGBTQ+ History Month.

She said her and Jerome Burke, director of the CIE, originally created the event to highlight the artistic history of the month.

“Queer people have dedicated their lives to and have contributed so much to art and art history,” she added.

Each painter was given a fresh canvas, and welcomed to help themselves to the wide selection of wooden shapes and figures that were waiting to be painted. This included Halloween-themed cutouts, along with less spooky things, such as butterflies and bumblebees.

There was also a sundry of stickers that students could take, many of which featured LGBTQ+ flags and symbols.

As for the “Sip” portion of the event, there were plenty of refreshments, including seltzers, juices, and water.

I sat at one of the few remaining blank canvases. I am not an artist, but the people at my table welcomed me with smiles.

Maeve Rose, a graduate student, said she came to the Paint and Sip for some much- needed relaxation.

“I need breaks from all of the work I’m doing, so this is self-care,” Rose said.

She added that even though painting isn’t her “go-to” form of art, she loves being creative and enjoys coming to the CIE for events.

By the end of the Paint and Sip, I left with a canvas of the night sky I was more or less proud of, and a few new friends.