Amid rain, annual Miami University College of Creative Arts Sparkfest carries on

Miami University’s Sparkfest, the College of Creative Arts end-of-year celebration and celebration, went on with live music, booths and more despite rainy weather on April 25.

At this year's event, there were over 150 students involved: 45 tables of sellers and student organizations, 12 different emerging technology in business and design (ETBD) games to demo and seven different performances. Some performances included local bands like Dust and Guitars, Oxchord, acapella music from The Cheezies and Just Duet and a performance from Dance Theater.

There was also a wide range of booths students could walk up to. A few of the different items being sold were paintings, prints, jewelry, vintage clothing, pottery and costumes. There were also booths to learn about art programs at Miami, as well as opportunities to take part in community artwork, draw or write where you feel most creative and get a small portrait drawn.

Photo by Sydney Mulford | The Miami Student
Students displayed all different types of art at the event.

“It's just a great day for [student organizations and sellers] to reach a larger audience as well as sell and showcase their own artwork,” Sparkfest co-chair Mallory Stiles said. “A lot of people have gotten a lot of well-deserved attention.”

Miami graduate Abbie Webster comes back to Sparkfest to draw small portraits of students. She graduated from Miami in December of 2023 with a degree in psychology and a co-major in art therapy. She said she started drawing portraits on a whim three years ago. At that point, she only had a cardboard sign; now, she has a whole booth and a line of people waiting for portraits.

“This makes me happy – I love being here, I love the people here,” Webster said. “It's a good feeling to know my art is valued enough that people spend their time to enjoy it.”

Photo by Sydney Mulford | The Miami Student
A Miami graduate returns to Sparkfest each year to sell portraits to students.

Sophomore Lee Trout also had a booth selling jewelry he made. Trout started making jewelry after doing the paperclip assignment in one of their arts entrepreneurship classes. The purpose of the paperclip assignment was to keep trading a paperclip to get something else. When Trout ended up with beads, he decided to make jewelry, and then Trout started their business when everyone asked about their earrings.

“I just think it's a great, awesome opportunity,” Trout said. “I'm really glad I get to do this.”

Photo by Sydney Mulford | The Miami Student
Some students at Sparkfest set up booths to sell jewelry.

The whole event would not have been possible without Stiles and her co-chair, junior Jack Drayer. Stiles said they have been planning, organizing and reaching out to student organizations and artists since the beginning of the school year.

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“Our real goal is to combine all six different departments of the College of Creative Arts (CCA) in one place, at one time and on one day,” Stiles said. “One of our biggest goals this year was improving the marketing and bringing in a wider university audience.”

Photo by Sydney Mulford | The Miami Student
One of the groups set up at Sparkfest was the Design Collective.

Even though the event had to be moved at the last minute to the Center for Performing Arts building because of rain, Stiles and Drayer are still proud of how everything turned out.

“I'm glad we switched to full pivot inside because now we're able to have it for the full day,” Drayer said. “It seems like people have enjoyed it, even being inside.”

mulforsj@miamioh.edu