La Pittura gives students a glimpse of art, artists and community events

By Amanda Benjamin, student writer

Students and art advocates Andrea Meldrum and Ashley Bailey set up a La Pittura display for Grizz Fest.

Winner of the Center for Student Activites Award for “Most Active Student Organization” three years in a row, Oakland's art and art history organization La Pittura is dedicated to the promotion of the arts in both study and practice.

La Pittura has been active for more than ten years, organizing trips to museums, lectures, video presentations and events on campus, such as Pumpkin Painting, Holiday Cocoa, Spring Tea and Scary Art Day.

“It picked up about five years ago and became a pretty big deal,” said Ashley Bailey, art education major and former president of La Pittura.

Bailey has been involved with the group for three years. The events are mostly art and food related, she said, and are used as a communication method to get students and staff involved on campus.

Current La Pittura president Nick Hottman displays his art at the student art show, "Eclectic Collections."

One major event is Dada Day, which takes place on April 1 every year and celebrates "found art" in the spirit of Marcel Duchamp. According to Bailey, people create art that mimics someone else's and add their own personal twist to it.

Nick Hottmann, a senior studio art major and the new president of La Pittura, said that recent and upcoming plans for the group include trips to Toronto over the summer, barbeques in the fall and spring, and an Art Crawl in the spring.

Hottman said his favorite experience was the first Art Crawl this past spring where the group traveled to eight different art galleries. “People should join because it’s a great organization,” he said. “We do a lot to help the community.”

According to Hottmann, being part of La Pittura allows students to network with local artists, meet new people and build up their resume.
“It’s a good way to get to know your peers outside of class,” he said.

Baily added that people should join the group to create a greater sense of belonging and community with OU and to get extra help when they need it, such as tutoring for Art History. “Anyone who appreciates art may join La Pittura,” Bailey said. 

Also this year, the group's advisor Sally Tardella received the “Organization Adviser of the Year Award,” an honor that came with a plaque for her office. For more information on this and other student organizations, visit http://stuorgs.oakland.edu/.