Every other Wednesday evening, students across campus come together and allow their creative spirits to thrive, all while relaxing with like-minded people, topped off with calm, soothing music playing in the background.
This is all through the Art Therapy club.
The Art Therapy Club is made to be an environment for members to unwind through their art, while also socializing with like-minded peers, investing time into new projects to stimulate student's minds.
Former president and USC alumna Lauren Puttock said the Art Therapy club was revitalized in 2022 after its founding seniors graduated.
"It's such a huge school. How is there only one art club, and now it's gone?" Puttock said.
The graduates allowed her to restart the club as president, where she began to provide a space for members to get their minds and bodies away from school.
"I know that it could be really good for mood regulation or even just working out anxieties," Puttock said. "Just to work on a project and feel good about it when you're done, and then you can laugh with friends, meet new people, just overall, a very positive atmosphere."
An article from NPR stated that when making art of many kinds, human cortisol levels decrease, which makes it easier to deal with stress. Furthermore, making art creates more positive thoughts and allows for a deeper level of focus.
Current club president and fourth-year biology student Isabella Newmoyer said each week, the club aims to do a different activity to keep members interested and wanting to come back, such as painting on canvases, working with clay, rock painting and more.
Newmoyer joined the club originally to continue her art, as her class schedule didn't allow for any art courses. Through the projects they've worked on, she said she and other members would often become hyper-focused on what they were doing, relieving stress in the process.
"It's so easy to get lost in the art project that you're doing and focus on that," Newmoyer said. "It's almost like all of your other stresses and worries and everything else in your life gets put on the back burner for just a little bit.
She also said the club brings social growth to members involved, regardless of their majors, easily bringing people together.
"As time has gone on, I've just seen so many people say a small comment like, 'Oh that looks so good,' or 'I love what you're doing,' something as small as that was able to start up a conversation, and then they ended up sitting together," Newmoyer said. "And then progressively, they get more incorporated into the club, and they start talking and meeting with more people."
Fourth-year psychology student Amani Eagles said she enjoys the calming atmosphere provided with art therapy club, bringing her excitement for each meeting. She works closely alongside Newmoyer, bouncing ideas to improve experience off one another.
"I think spending an hour out of your busy schedule, busy day, to just work on something that isn't really that serious, just something you can take your mind off of the daily stress that you can incur as a student, especially as a junior or senior," Eagles said. "I think it's just a good way to not really think about it and do something for fun."
Newmoyer said she wants to find like-minded people to provide these experiences for current and incoming students in the coming years, as she is in her senior year.
"Definitely even once I leave, I hope that I'm leaving the club as something that people are still looking forward to next year," Newmoyer said. "And I hope that there's going to be new officers, and a new president and vice president who are just as excited about the club as I am."
The art therapy club meets every other Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. More information and details about the club can be found here.