After party serves coffee, mocktails, art

As Culturefest faded into the night, some students decided to keep exploring at the CultureFest after party at the IU Art Museum.

Events Manager for the museum, Josie Larimer, said the party went well with more than 400 guests within the first hour.

“It’s a fun and relaxing way to introduce students to the IU Art Museum and experience different cultures through our three permanent galleries,” Larimer said.
These three galleries include Art of the Western World — Early Medieval to the Present; Arts of Asia and the Ancient Western World and Arts of Africa, the South Pacific and the Americas.

“We want students to feel comfortable at the art museum and learn about this gem in the middle of campus that they don’t come to often,” Larmier said.

Guests were greeted with pineapple and raspberry ‘mocktails,’ BLU Boy Chocolate Cafe & Cakery chocolates and coffee samples from around the world courtesy of Angles Cafe, located inside the art museum gift shop.

Sophomore Neil Klodzen, a transfer student from IU-Purdue University Fort Wayne, said he came to the event for the free food and coffee.

“Coffee to me promotes conversation,” he said. “It’s hot, so while it sits there you can talk to people.”

Conversation was flowing between freshmen roommates Ashley Nyongani and Ashley Jenkins.

“It’s a good opportunity to bond with my roommate and see our different interests,” Nyongani said.

Jenkins, who is majoring in studio art and living in the Visual Arts Community, said she can already tell that art is a big deal at IU, and she is glad she made the decision to attend school in Bloomington.

“You can meet other people here who are passionate about art,” Jenkins said.
Issa Lampe, IU Art Museum senior academic officer, said the art museum offers freshmen a lot of opportunity.

“The arts situation in Bloomington is really thriving because of the IU themester of sustainability with the great art exhibits, tours and events about sustainability,” Lampe said.