Bad art Wednesdays at WGS house
By Caraline Squires | Staff Writer
“We don’t clean after bad art,” event host and Administrative Specialist Clara Perka explained to me after I asked where to dump out my paint water cup; it’s just about getting creative. After attending Bad Art Wednesday for the first time, I will definitely be back.
Bad Art Wednesdays are hosted by the Women and Gender Studies Program at 94 Bedford Street on the Portland Campus every Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. As long as the Bad Art sign is outside, you can just come on in! Started by Professor Julianne Siegfriedt two years ago, Bad Art Wednesday is going into its third year and focuses on anti-racist motivations and the fight against the capitalistic demand for perfection through art and community. 
Not sure what to draw? I was hesitant as well. Luckily, a bowl at the center of the table filled with prompts ranging from “Choose a color. Draw a line. Draw something else. Keep going” to “What does liberation look like? Art it out!” can give you an idea. There is a plethora of art supplies to choose from: paints, markers, stickers, books, magazines to make cutouts, and more.
In just over an hour, participants discussed the state of the education system, trips to Switzerland and South Africa, high school experiences, happenings in Maine and rural communities, and even guessed each other’s music tastes.
A space for staff, faculty, and students to have a creative outlet built into their week, Bad Art Wednesday’s main goal is to introduce people to the WGS house and the program–specifically, the fact that the house is not a center but an academic program. WGS hopes to create a digital archive and a Bad Art Walk at the end of the year.
If any USM programs are interested in hosting a Bad Art night of their own, WGS is interested in sharing Bad Art with different programs and organizations. There are also work-study positions available through Bad Art Wednesdays; contact Clara Perka for more information.
For a creative outlet with fantastic company, join the WGS program for Bad Art Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at 94 Bedford Street on the Portland Campus. For more information about the Women and Gender Studies programs and events follow their Instagram @usm.wgs.