While walking to class on a brisk October morning, students have little on their mind except rushing to the nearest heated building while the cold slowly seeps through their several layers. However, last Tuesday and Wednesday, North Dakota State students had something exciting to do between their usual morning lectures.
Outside of the Memorial Union, students could be seen drawing and coloring with oil pastels on a large bed sheet set up in high traffic areas. Colorful creations of cats, trees and stick figures were drawn throughout the day while students were cheerfully encouraged to draw more and make it better.
Paul Wislotski, a Christian missionary, is making it his mission to visit two college campuses in every state to spread the love of Jesus and make some really unique art to send to those in need. North Dakota is Wislotski’s 30th state he’s hit so far after he began this endeavor two years ago.
For all of those who approach the artwork, there are a few rules that must be followed: no writing at all (no letters, numbers, initials), don’t let your artwork get too big, don’t cover anyone else’s art (adding is okay) and, if children draw, an adult must draw with them. All skill levels are encouraged. When students said, “I can’t draw,” Wislotski said, “Then just color.”
“It feels like I’m pushing a large snowball up a hill, and some day I’m going to get to the top and this is going to spread across the world. It’s going to be amazing when it finally pays off,” Wislotski said, regarding traveling the nation.
The artwork Wislotski and college students are creating has been “commissioned” for several deserving individuals. When Wislotski was in California at the UCLA campus this summer, a professor was killed in a murder-suicide. Using the art as a tool for healing, bed sheet creations were made for the family of the professor and the family of the shooter as well.
When the tragedy at the Pulse Nightclub occurred in Orlando, Florida, Wislotski was in San Francisco. After the tragic event, he had large, supportive pieces made for the victims of the largest mass shooting and the largest hate crime in U.S. history.
Other pieces of art go to police officers, firemen, military personnel, struggling countries and anyone Wislotski feels is in need of something to brighten their day
Of course, the movement Wislotski is trying to start doesn’t just begin and end with college campuses. He wants this movement to take off in homes everywhere to bring the family together. Wislotski is adamant about how easy it is to have a large piece within the household.
“All it takes is a plain piece of cloth — a bed sheet works great — oil pastels to draw with, a table to stretch the fabric on and acrylic clear coat to seal the pastels,” Wislotski said.
Paul hopes to finish visiting the college campuses in the 50th state by October of next year. He has a Facebook page entitled “Paul’s Innerprizes and Collective Art” and several students have shared pictures of art around the nation using the hashtag #missionarymasterpiece.