DeKALB – CHILL: Mindful Art Creations to Inspire Innovation had its first event of the semester on Tuesday. The event takes place every Tuesday from 3 to 5 p.m. through Nov. 17. The purpose of these events is to engage with other members of the community while taking part in mindful art.
CHILL is centered around a variety of different activities, the main activity being mindful art. Mindful art focuses the brain on breathing techniques and the task at hand. Lynn Herrmann, a professor in the College of Health and Human Sciences, said this is important to public health because individual health shapes the larger public.
“The health of the community is happening, like that’s what we’re living day to day, right? Our stress levels, how grounded we feel, time management, all those things. That’s like our day to day living of health. And because this is a campus community, we can support each other in our health efforts, even if we don’t like realize that’s what we’re doing,” Herrmann said.
CHILL also aims to put every individual on the same level rather than a hierarchy. Everyone is encouraged to have open dialogue regardless of their role on campus or within the community.
“I feel like just going into a space that has that different feel, that different intention, which is collaboration, that you just all come together at this space, and it’s so easy to connect with everybody else because we’re all like on the same level. There’s not a hierarchy or anything. We’re all there for mindfulness. We’re all there for the sake of community health,” Herrmann said.
Sheleah Cummings, a junior psychology major, said the event was very calming and had a welcoming environment.
“I would say it was a 10 out of 10. Background music, very welcoming. Activity very calming. Yeah, I feel like the whole vibe is welcoming. It gets you chill. It gets you calm. I am very at ease right now,” Cummings said. “I’m not artistic at all. With the activity, I’m just going to say I kind of just went with what my mind thought was right. I just kind of went with the flow.”
Cummings said others should just come in and see where the event takes them. She said people can make new connections and further learn more about others on campus.
“I would say just come. You never know what can happen. You can meet new people. That’s why I come to these events anyway, to meet new people, to get known on campus, and it’s a good event to come to,” Cummings said.
Herrmann also said people should not be shy and it is easier once someone takes the first step into the welcoming space they have created.
“Don’t be shy is probably the biggest advice,” Herrmann said. “All it takes is coming one time to, like, get over that shyness feeling because I think we’re a very welcoming bunch of people and, yeah, you have nothing to lose, everything to gain.”
This is a drop-in event hosted in the 71 North Partnership Studio in Founders Memorial Library. No creativity is required, just the willingness to create something out of mindfulness.
Originally published by the Northern Star, written by Keegan Nowman. Photo by Sanaa Scott, Northern Star.