Thinking of others was all the inspiration Naomi White needed to create The Art Closet, housed in the Department of Art in the UTC Fine Arts Center (photo courtesy of Naomi White).
Shortly after Naomi White arrived at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, she saw a need.
Good art supplies are not cheap and not always accessible, she said. Many of her friends and peers wanted to create, but free resources needed to be improved.
“I always had a passion for art and wanted to be creative,” said White, a junior sculpture major from Alcoa, Tennessee. “As I got older, I realized I wasn’t the only one who didn’t have every art supply I could explore. I wanted to make sure I gave back to the community that gave to me. I want to continue the goodness of giving, of creating a space where people can give the art supplies they won’t be using and get involved.”
Being an artist herself, White saw many people giving away and even throwing away their unused materials. It prompted her to propose an idea to Dr. Angie To, the head of the UTC Department of Art: creating a space for unused art supplies—which is how The Art Closet was born.
Founded in 2022, The Art Closet provides UTC students in need with free art supplies. In the spirit of giving and receiving, students can go to the closet to fulfill their creative goals or donate excess supplies.
“Naomi is a highly motivated student who came to me with a clear idea of what she wanted to do, the physical space it would require, who it would help, and how it would be funded,” To recalled. “Oftentimes when a student comes to me with an idea, it is only partially formed and requires a great deal of input from me. In Naomi’s case, she had already worked out the logistics and only needed me for endorsement and to help her locate a place in the building where The Art Closet would live.”
Always open for donation or pick up, The Art Closet is located just to the left upon entering the Fine Arts Center’s main doors.
This year, the Artists Alliance—a club spearheaded by White—will merge with the Art History Association (AHA). She said that the AHA will manage the initiative to continue the mission and preserve The Art Closet for many years, ensuring its home at UTC.
“This year, I am making sure I am focusing on what’s important to me, which includes The Art Closet,” White said. “I am trying to ensure we are gathering student resources and reaching out to the community to see what we can do for each other. I hope to help as many people as possible with this project.”
For information on donating to The Art Closet, contact Naomi White through email (theartclosetutc@gmail.com) or via Instagram at the_art_closet_utc.
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