Hands shape clay into small creatures as gentle music fills the air. There is no sign of stress or the worries of upcoming midterms as students remain engrossed in their artwork. This haven for the stressed student is not fictional, but is instead a weekly occurrence. Every Thursday at 4 p.m., the Art & Soul program offers space for students to create art and practice mindfulness and meditation. The program is held in the All Faiths Room in Reid Campus Center and is organized by Interfaith Chaplain Adam Kirtley with the help of student intern Tuma Mohamed.

For one hour, students are given guided creative projects and are asked to find a connection between their art and their mental well-being. The program offers a space for low-effort mindfulness that allows students to relax and take care of themselves. 

Madeleine Rokop, a first year student who went to the most recent meeting, talked about the program as a form of stress relief.

“Music and meditation sounded really nice, especially during the beginning of the school year, when everything’s really chaotic,” Rokop said.

Mohamed spoke on their own passion for art, and how that helps her find balance in organizing the Art & Soul program.

“I am as much an artist as I am a person existing in the world. My art is the lens through which my passion is complicated and contained,” Mohamed said.

Rokop had gone to one previous Art & Soul meeting and had come back to find another break from the chaos. She continued on, explaining how the Art & Soul program had helped her. 

“It felt really good. It was a lot of mindfulness, which I really needed,” Rokop said. “It felt really calming. The music was really nice, and it gave me a chance to breathe.”

As part of their internship, Mohamed leads most of the Art & Soul meetings, giving them a valuable student perspective on the value of the space. 

“As college students, it can be hard to catch a breath in our action-packed lives. Spaces like these provide a warm environment to breathe with intention and awareness,” Mohamed said.

Giving students the chance to breathe is exactly what Kirtley wanted the Art & Soul Program to be. Specifically, Kirtley hoped to emphasize the importance of a space where students can create something outside of school work without the pressure of perfection.

“Looking at a blank canvas can be as overwhelming as looking at a blank page when writing an essay. The aim is to cultivate a space where folks of any skill-level can find the process of creation and reflection to not only be calming, but perhaps also a break from how we’re typically using our heads and hands,” Kirtley said.

The Art & Soul program is a newer resource for Whitman students who hope to break the cycle of stress, but has been in the works for longer.

“I’ve been thinking about launching a program like this for a while. Given the complicated and stressful challenges facing the world, and particularly this semester, I decided that this was the right time to give it a try,” Kirtley said.

Kirtley spoke on why he created the Art & Soul program, and how he connects to art as the Interfaith Chaplain.

“My hope is that folks recognize the ways in which this one hour a week actually replenishes them, rather than depletes them. I’ve thought a lot about the importance of the creative process. I absolutely consider it to be an expression of spirituality,” Kirtley said.

The Art & Soul program is an excellent resource for students, offering a creative outlet in a low stakes environment. Anyone can join the program at any time regardless of their experience level with mindfulness or meditation. The process of creation and mindfulness allows a break from the stress of student life while nourishing artistry.