Tucked away in the lower levels of the Erb Memorial Union, the Craft Center provides an array of art forms for University students and community members to enjoy.
From woodshop to fibers to glassblowing and ceramics, the Craft Center is an enticing place to delve into art on the University campus.
This past month, the Craft Center has been displaying artwork from various staff members at the center to community class instructors as a part of its annual Staff Art Show, which runs through March 14 on the second floor of the EMU.
Ceramics instructor Renae Kowitz has been working at the Craft Center since 2004, though she has been working with ceramics for more than 17 years.
“We all kind of see each other in passing, but we don’t always get to see other staff members’ finished work, so that’s nice,” Kowitz said of the staff show. “People are usually interested in what we make as teachers. And, it draws interest to the Craft Center. People don’t always realize that we are here and how many crafts we offer.”
Kowitz’s pieces in the show include a series of geometric vases in a variety of textured whites and blue colors. The classes at the Craft Center offer a wide range of craft choices at low costs and usually include a mix of University students and community members. 
“Coming to the Craft Center is just a great way to make art that’s not for credit or classes. It’s also a good place to go have fun and make friends,” Kowitz said. “A lot of people come here to relax and get some down time, or spend their lunch here to make something really quick.”
Despite the show’s title, submissions to the show are not limited to faculty and staff, but are open to anyone who works with the center. University freshman Rachell Hughes works at the front desk of the Craft Center and contributed some photography work to the Staff Art Show.
“It shows every aspect of the things that we offer to the community, and there is a piece from virtually every craft group that we offer. It’s just a place where it all comes together for a minimal price and is just another brand of education to do on your free time,” Hughes said.
The Staff Art Show demonstrates the talents and variety of crafts offered at the Craft Center, and it also draws students and community members to the benefits of the center. A part of student fees go toward the Craft Center, so it allows University students to make more crafts at a cheaper price.
Jeff Weitzel, assistant coordinator of the Craft Center, also contributed a few pieces to the show. In addition to featuring several mediums of artwork year-round, the Craft Center has put on a Staff Art Show for almost 30 years now, Weitzel said.
“It really shows the diversity of things that we do here and is a good representation of the people who work here and good exposure for them,” he said.
Weitzel said part of the goal of the Staff Art show is to draw students and community members to appreciate local art and potentially get involved with crafts for a good price.
“It’s important to show everybody that the Craft Center not only just holds a place for people to do crafts, but there are also people that work here that are knowledgeable about all kinds of crafts,” Hughes said. “No matter what type of art you do, you always have a place at the Craft Center.”
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