Students learned how colors can be associated with emotions during the Art of Belonging workshop in the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union Paris Room from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday. 

“It’s really interesting to see how people perceive colors and can use creative expression differently,” said Mira Jacobus, the presenter of the workshop and the mental health promotion coordinator at the EIU Health Education Resource Center, or HERC. 

This exchange between students happened during the discussion portion of the windows of connection activity, during which students drew a four-square grid on a piece of paper. Each box was to represent a meaningful person, an imagined hopeful future, a meaningful experience and a meaningful place, according to Jacobus. 

“What this experience is all about is using color that represents what each of these squares means to you. When you think of your meaningful person or your meaningful place, [draw] what color represents those things or that person,” Jacobus said. 

The goals of the workshop were to talk about the loneliness experienced by students, the importance of connection between people and to learn how to use color to express creativity and emotion, according to Jacobus. 

“When we looked at our American College Health Association survey data from last year and the general college landscape regarding student wellbeing, we see that students are experiencing loneliness at an extreme rate,” Assistant Director of the Health Education Resource Center Matthew Warner said. “We want to do our best to impact that, and this course is designed to get individuals to talk more with others and break out of their shell.” 

During the workshop, Jacobus said loneliness can be lessened by using creative expression to form relationships. 

“Sharing your work with others allows you to share your story and connect with those around you,” Jacobus said. “Being in the moment while doing something creative allows you to be in tune with yourself.” 

Jacobus also gave a presentation on how colors affect students’ perception of their environments. 

“If a wall is painted blue, green, or light purple, people may perceive the room’s temperature is cooler than if it was painted a more neutral color,” said Jacobus. 

Jacobus then led a color meditation, which is a breathing exercise during which students associated colors with certain emotions. 

“While we are doing [the color meditation], think of a color for calm and then a color for stress. You will breathe in calm and breathe out stress,” Jacobus said. 

At the end, students discussed their answers for the associated colors, which varied. Some students associated calm with blue while others associated calm with black and green. 

The workshop is part of the Campus Colors & Connections program, which was made by the Foundation for Art & Healing, a nonprofit organization that partners with other organizations and campuses to bring the arts to the public to improve mental health.

Essie Newton can be reached at 581-2812 or eanewton@eiu.edu.