UAA’s Winterfest in the Quad featured live music, warm food and ice-cold art

This story is a part of The Northern Light’s investigative series into art culture on campus, which follows different groups at UAA and their experience with campus art.

The Quad was packed with students, faculty and community members spray painting large snow berms with water-based paint. The sunny, yet freezing, weather deterred no one from a delicious meal and the opportunity to spray paint with friends.

The Quad had two food trucks, Yeti Dogs and Tacos El Primo, which provided students a free meal and UAA staff a $5 discount when given a meal ticket.

Lucy Cuddy Hall had a live performance featuring Jared Woods who sang and played guitar to the applause of a warm and satisfied crowd.

Institutional Engagement and Events Manager Molly Gray and Executive Director of Student Engagement and Inclusion Kim Morton spoke with The Northern Light about the event.

Morton noted that a staple for Winterfest has been the involvement of different types of art projects in the snow.

Morton also said that art students created stencils for that day of Winterfest to help incorporate art into the event. There were a few small, creative ice sculptures made in the Quad in addition to the spray paint.

Morton and Gray commented on the core reasons why Winterfest is an event UAA members look forward to every year.

“This is right around that winter break time and this is a time for students, employees and the community to celebrate together. Every event we do is really focused on just trying to bring joy to each of those groups,” said Gray.