A large crowd of students and faculty gathered on Tuesday afternoon in LAC’s Social Justice Intercultural Center to sip on apple cider and paint Valentine’s Day-themed paintings.
The event, known as a sip and paint, is a social gathering event where participants consume beverages, sometimes alcoholic drinks, and follow step-by-step instructions to recreate a chosen piece of art.
Bri Pinkerton, administrative assistant at LBCC, tri chair for the Black Heritage Month Planning Work Group and host of the event explained that “art is universal. It is loved by all age groups.”
This was further supported by the turnout of the event, with about 20 students and faculty showing up to enjoy the festivities. Artists, people looking for a break from their classes and people looking to socialize all participated.
(Left to right) Toia Taylor and Isaiah Wilson came together and working together painting hearts in honor of Valentine’s Day. (Desary Vailencour) 
(Left to right) Victoria Ben and Armae Abadilla enjoying some food, fun, and some painted hearts. (Desary Vailencour) 
(Left to right) Joey Smith, Jay Brandy, and Sharon Jordan enjoying their time together painting hearts (Desary Vailencour) 
(Center) Jerome Hunt converses with (upper left) Vincent Thornton Jr.,(lower left) Camille Bolton and (right) Monaliese Davis during the beginning of the sip and paint party (Desary Vailencour)
Participants came to learn of the event by various means. Some of them were able to fill out the online RSVP form that came with the online advertising prior to Tuesday. However, others simply walked into the Social Justice Intercultural Center after the event had begun and decided to stay and partake.
All necessary supplies were provided by the event organizers. 11 by 14-inch canvases, easels, and acrylic paint were all given to participants to complete their artwork.
The event offered non-alcoholic apple cider and water for participants to sip while they painted. LBCC prohibits any alcohol manufactured or consumed by students, faculty, staff or guests in buildings, grounds, or facilities owned by Long Beach City College District or used as part of events by LBCC.
“Due to the budget, we were unable to get an instructor,” said Pinkerton. Organizers improvised by giving blank templates out to the participants.
The template was a big heart with swirls inside. Some participants copied the template to the best of their abilities, some used the template for inspiration, and some veered from the template completely.
The use of a template allowed for some uniformity but was also an opportunity to showcase some originality.
Monaliese Davis, a student, explained her thought process behind the creation of her work. Her lively design of stray lines, shapes, and words all came together to create artwork that encapsulated what Pinkerton’s event was set to do.
Davis mentioned how she stuck to the template, before moving on to meditate on several concepts related to Valentine’s Day, which were showcased via calligraphy.
Davis wrote words like “bloom” and “care” around her artwork, stating, “that’s what love does, it blooms. It’s a reflection of what love means to me.”
These ideas were coupled with a particular focus on the colors red and pink due to their association with the iconographic heart and Davis’ general fondness for the hues.
At the end of the hour-long painting session, the participants that stayed until the end were gathered for a group picture of themselves and their completed pieces.
The participants were able to take their pieces home for themselves as a memory of the afternoon they spent together.