On Tuesday, Oct. 29, the University of North Alabama’s Black Lioness Alliance held their Fall Sip N’ Paint. This Halloween-themed event allowed students to explore their creativity in a cozy environment while allowing them to celebrate diversity and inclusion at UNA’s campus.
“We just want people to come together and feel like they have a safe space,” BLA Social media manager and UNA student Kori Gray says, “Allowing anybody—shape, color, size—to come and enjoy.”
The BLA hosted the event and provided attendees with canvases, paint, paintbrushes, pizza and refreshments.
While this event was more laid-back, the BLA also offered a friendly competition to its attendees for the two best freestyle canvas artworks, with the winners receiving a blanket and UNA tote bag at the end.
For their less competitive attendees, the BLA offered lined-artwork canvases similar to coloring pages to provide a more laid-back experience.
The event kicked off with a realization that they had received the wrong key for the top floor of the Stone Lodge, and had actually received the basement key. This helped provide another layer of community since most of the tables and chairs were upstairs, with painters forming small groups to Sip N’ Paint on the floor.
After everyone got comfortable and situated, the BLA brought in Domino’s pizza and sodas to enjoy while finishing up their terrifyingly creative artwork.
The event ran from 6 pm to 8 pm, with Alicia Canovas Martinez and Madalyn Clemmons being crowned the winners.
The event was organized by BLA members Kayla Mitchell, Jada Winston, Kori Gray, Lyric Sheppard, and Lasonya Halums and was held at the historic Stone Lodge on UNA’s campus.
This was the BLA’s last event for the semester, planning on scheduling more social events akin to Sip N’ Paint in the spring.
