Highline students flocked to the Global Student Ambassadors’ (GSA) “Arts Around the World” event last month to celebrate traditional arts and crafts from various cultures. The GSA organized the activities with the hope of fostering relationships across cultural boundaries within the four hour event.

Jeffery Kunick, who is the supervising organizer of the event, elaborates further on this shared goal of the organization. “One of our missions here as a global student ambassador is to bring international and domestic students together. We believe that by having an event where students can see different arts from different cultures that they can start to break down those barriers – those perceived barriers,” said Kunick.

Pop music in various languages filled the background as students settled into their activity of choice – each mentored by a local artist. Every artist was passionate about their traditional craft and were eager to teach it to the attendees, garnering much participation.

Right away students formed a line to the henna activity table representing Afghanistan and East Africa. This activity was unique in allowing attendees the option to either paint their own henna designs or have their henna done by a skilled henna artist. Allowing for friends along with strangers to bond over the shared experience of creating unique designs for each other using henna. 

Ukraine used ribbons, twine, and fake flowers for DIY flower crowns that could be taken home as individual mementos. Meanwhile the Native American table laid out cedar wood for attendees to etch whatever design they like. Once finished, the final wooden art pieces will be hung on a pathway near Building 28. 

Both activities gradually gained a popular patronage that did not drop, even when closing time was near as students were deeply entranced into the process of creation. 

Several tables were set up for a Chinese activity called Inkflow, a form of water marbling where only black ink is dropped into the pan of water using big calligraphy brushes. Although it seems there was initial confusion from attendees about the activity at the opening of the event. 

A student by the name of Kyla made mention, “The calligraphy Chinese one looked really cool but I didn’t really do it [at the time, as] I don’t think anybody was there because they didn’t know what to do. I have an idea on how to do it, but I was like I don’t know.” 

Several attendees made pinatas in various shapes out of paper mache as a traditional craft representing Mexico. 

Painting conical hats with acrylics was the picked representative craft of Vietnam which brought much joy to Highline students. “I love that they can bring different cultures in one event,” said Vivian, a Highline student. “I’m Vietnamese and I can see our culture here so I [am really] interested and excited.”

Kimlong Chhuon, an organizer of the event, found joy in his efforts. “Honestly, just seeing the results, you know seeing the people that come to [the event], seeing their happy faces, you know their smiles and just bringing the positivity – cause after all the hard work you can see the reflection in people’s faces, their enjoyment,” said Chhuon.

Towards the end while artists put away art materials into boxes attendees took their art pieces with them along with a type of satisfaction that only comes from creating something of your own.