St. Olaf’s ninth annual UPRISING art exhibition titled “I Can’t Draw” opened in the Groot Gallery on Feb. 13. It is described by the exhibit as “[confronting] the pervasive anxiety surrounding art-making — an anxiety rooted in the belief that ‘real’ art must be technically perfect and traditionally trained, especially within 2D media.”

“I Can’t Draw” not only shows off St. Olaf student art, but also invites visitors to create their own piece of work with its large, interactive section through a table supplied with markers, pieces of paper with designs, and tape. This allows visitors to hang up their work alongside the artists.

Many of the exhibition’s pieces are digital photographs and handmade physical objects — mediums that show a more progressive form of art that embraces craftmaking. The exhibit shows that a physical piece of artwork doesn’t have to be done through 2D mediums or be hyperrealistic. Art can be made through collage, photography, words, or any other medium — as long as something draws from a creative outlet, it is art.

All the students who contributed to this year’s exhibition deserve appreciation and applause. Not only did everyone who submitted their work have wonderful, creative pieces, but they also helped to spark conversations about the art world, open doors for others to ask questions about the artists, and provide an open space for everyone to create something to be added to the exhibition.