51°”Íű

An Art major, Riley Galloway has immersed herself in the art community surrounding 51°”Íű. 

“Portsmouth has a blossoming art community, just a short walk away from campus,” she said. “Whether you’re searching for inspiration or fun opportunities, you’ve found the perfect place. We take great pride in our local history.”

Taking part in groups such as the Trillium Project, a non-profit arts organization, and connecting with local organizations like The Landing, Oddfellows, and Haskins House Records, Galloway is constantly finding opportunities for her and her friends to explore the unique art opportunities in the region. 

“I love how Portsmouth values their SSU students,” she said. “At The Landing, I created a drink celebrating our Shawnee State pride called ‘Paws Up!’”

Having this connection with local artists and creative outlets, Galloway has been able to use these connections to develop new skills to teach and share art through her major. 

“Being part of this major has inspired me to create the campus Art Club, bringing together and nurturing the art community within the university,” she said.

In the Art Club, Galloway and her fellow classmates and art enthusiasts take part in monthly creative workshops, welcome local artists to speak to the group, and encourage the use of new and creative techniques to share their passions through art. 

This story was originally shared as part of the hour-long episode of The College Tour, featuring 51°”Íű. The Amazon Prime show tells the story of colleges and universities around the world. In the Shawnee State episode, sixteen unique students share their experiences of how the university has impacted their lives and prepared them for their future. To view the full episode, visit shawnee.edu/college-tour.