Dear MIT Community,
MIT currently has no free studio space where students can paint, draw, or sculpt. Visual arts exercise the brain in different ways than problem sets. Many students who were passionate about art in high school have been forced to choose between living in a cramped room smelling of oil paints and giving up their passion. MIT is one of the top universities in the world, but in terms of its visual arts opportunities, MIT trails all comparable universities.
The only studio space for students is in the poorly ventilated Student Art Association classrooms. Since the classrooms are not adequately ventilated, students cannot use real oil paints or other art media requiring any solvents or that produce any odor. Not only do the classes lack ventilation, but they are expensive, and students are only allowed to use the class space during the duration of their class. For these reasons, students have had to paint in their tiny dorm rooms--when the weather permits them to keep their windows open.
The Student Art Association, RUNE, and the UA Committee on Student Space Planning support our proposal for MIT to create a free visual arts studio. We urge you to join us in this initiative. Students relieve stress in different ways, and they deserve a choice.
Sincerely,
E. M. Baker Foundation (baker_foundation@mit.edu)