New Mexico State University’s Men of Color Initiative, Black Programs, and Latin American Programs hosted a Sip N’ Paint that brought students together to create and connect with one another on Jan. 30, 2025.
“We wanted to put together a space for students to come over, decompress, build community, and also promote collaboration,” Rio Lopez, the director of the Latin American Programs said. “We shouldn’t be working in silos. There’s a lot of different activities we should and can be doing together, bringing our communities together.”
Students were encouraged to express themselves through painting, getting involved in their local communities, and taking some time for themselves to relax.
“I think [events like Sip N’ Paint] are important, especially on campuses like NMSU, where there’s not a large Black student population,” NMSU student Jadyn Wangaard said. “Just for us to be able to connect and see there are other Black students on campus.”
While working on an art piece of his own, another student, Latrell Treadwell, explained why participating in the community is important to him.
“The culture surrounding Black History Month, being Black in a place where we’re not really represented,” Treadwell said. “I feel like showing up to events like these helps bring attention to allow other people to see. Especially me, being in the sports and athletics, allows other people in those same areas to see they don’t have to just do sports and athletics on campus. They can also do events like this.”
Treadwell disclosed the effects that community activity can have.
“It allows for a bigger community, you don’t have to just be walking the halls or walking around campus by yourself,” Treadwell said. “You can come in here and find other people that look like you, or think like you, or anything like that, and just not be alone.”
Treadwell was not the only student who stressed the importance of finding community. Many others explained what community is to them and why participating is important to them.
“I feel it shows a lot of unity and diversity within the community you can’t really just get anywhere,” student Aaliyah Walker said. “It also gives a sense of safeness and hope for the future, especially in times like these.”
Cecil Rose, the director of NMSU Black Programs, detailed the importance of hosting events like the Sip N’ Paint.
“It’s important we celebrate culture, and we also always tell people to be present and have a presence,” Rose said.
But what happens to the paintings after the event? On Feb. 22, the paintings are set to be displayed at the Black History Month variety show, “Cultural Mosaic: Voices & Rhythms of Diversity,” in Corbett Center Student Union Auditorium. Every student’s piece will be brought together to create a mosaic, as described by Patrick Turner, the Associate Provost of Student Academic Success.
“We’re going to take all these paintings here, and anyone that comes to the variety show, they’ll get to see all the body of work [of] the students,” Turner said. “If you can see them, it’s very colorful. So we’re going to put this into what I call a mosaic, because oftentimes people talk about the melting pot, and I am like no. We go for the mosaic where it’s a combination of everybody together to make this big, beautiful, beautiful picture, but you can still see the flavor of each painting. That’s the whole goal of painting and showcasing students’ body of work.”
