Resident Life: Students paint pots, plant plants for hall collaborative program

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[tps_header] The Residence Hall staff held a collaboration between two different events for students to paint pots and plant plants outside the hall this week. 

“I love plants so much,” Senior Resident Assistant Molly John said. “I wanted to share my love for plants with my residents. It’ll brighten up their rooms.”

[caption id="attachment_17450" align="alignright" width="359"] Rhett Sandquist, a first-year student living in the Residence Hall plants his succulent in the pot he painted Monday evening.[/caption]

On Monday evening, 24 residents gathered outside in the courtyard between the hall and the Fort Sherman Officers’ Quarters to paint clay pots. The following Thursday afternoon those residents could meet at the benches near the Fort Sherman Powder Magazine area to plant succulents and a variety of other small greenery.

Resident Assistant Josh Heuvel dished out a variety of acrylic paint to students and provided the clay pots for residents for his program on Monday. John provided the soil and plants, including zebra cactuses and aloe vera, for her program on Thursday. 

[caption id="attachment_17447" align="alignleft" width="353"] A resident decorates her pot with acrylic dots. After the event, an acrylic sealant was provided for residents who had made intricate designs.[/caption]

“I’m not that creative but this is still fun to do,” said Rhett Sandquist, a first-year student living in the Residence Hall. “It’s relaxing [to paint pots] at the very least.”

Initially, the planting succulents program was to be held in the same courtyard as the pots event, but due to the blustery and cold weather, it was relocated to the Fort Sherman Powder Magazine area. Out of the 24 students that came to paint pots, only six came to the plant event, which John said was presumably due to the rain and cold weather.

To comply with COVID-19 safety guidelines, Heuvel was the only person allowed to distribute paints, brushes and clay pots. At John’s program, the students were allowed to choose their own succulent and plant it themselves. Residents were required to have masks on at all times during the event.

“I loved the program, even if it’s cold outside,” said Grace Michelsen, an art major who is a  returning resident from the 2019-2020 year. “Plants can be wonderful friends.” [/tps_header] Rhett Sandquist paints his pot in the courtyard. Sandquist is a first-year student studying carpentry management.

Rhett Sandquist proudly presents his clay pot, painted orange and black. Sandquist said how he wanted to paint his hometown’s mascot, the Trojan. He graduated from Troy Jr-Sr High School in Troy, Idaho, before attending NIC.Josh Heuvel hands paint to a resident. Heuvel is the Resident Assistant for the third-floor short-wing hall in the residence hall.Gray Pocius comments to others about his paint-covered hands. Pocius is the first-floor Resident Assistant at the residence hall. His shirt was a reminder to the students attending to keep six feet apart, even when wearing masks. Residents talk as they paint their clay pots. The residents were advised to continue to wear their masks outside to prevent the potential spread of COVID-19.Molly John and Willey Dowler sit distanced while painting their pots. Residents paint their clay pots on the sidewalk next to the courtyard. Grace Michelsen paints a succulent onto the pot that would soon contain her succulent. Michelsen is an art major attending NIC.Hannah Warwick paints clouds onto her blue clay pot. Warwick is the Resident Assistant for the third-floor long hall in the residence hall.

Rhett Sandquist plants a succulent in the pot he painted Monday evening.

A resident fortifies her plant with extra soil. The soil was provided courtesy of the Residence Hall.

Two pots painted by residents who attended both events on Monday evening and Thursday afternoon.

Molly John waits for students to arrive at her event. Due to the cold conditions that afternoon and the relocation of the event, John said she assumed attendance was down because of those circumstances.