Analog pastimes, also known as “grandma hobbies,” seem to be popping up everywhere.
From social media trends to celebrities handing out homemade sourdough, old-school amusement is hotter than ever. Now, a group of art history students at Carleton University are bringing the trend to campus.
The Carleton Art History Undergraduate Society has brought a plethora of craft activities to event attendees, including a yarn art night, key-chain making and a sewing night.
Members, executives and art history students alike meet on Tuesdays in the Audio-Visual Resource Centre in the St. Patrick’s Building for colourful craft-making and conversation.
The dimly lit room centres a long, paint-stained white desk for students to gather around. Scissors, multicoloured rolls of yarn and colouring pens are scattered about.
Katrina Diaz, co-president of the art history society, says the experience of attending events is a confidence booster.
Diaz is directly involved in the planning and execution of these events and says the club tries to interact with some of the mediums they learn about in art history.
Diaz says she hopes to “give students a space to focus that is away from the stress of studying while making art in a community.”
These activities “really opened up other skills I could do that I never thought of doing before,” said Emely Guzman, an art history society member and first-year student.
“It’s a good opportunity to expand your social circle,” she added.
Guzman says she is committed to attending these weekly events, and right after her Tuesday class heads to the lounge to join fellow members to craft.
The “grandma hobbies” trend fits into a phenomenon of “digital fatigue,” where numbers of young adults are returning to offline hobbies.
According to Stats Canada, for Canadians, taking a break from the Internet is not associated with better mental health, but spending less time online – pursuing other endeavours – is.
For students like Temi Odunayo, a first year history and theory of architecture student, hands-on analog pastimes look like mindful breaks from an ever-digitalized world.
“They’re an activity that you could do while thinking about anything,” Odunayo said.
“It calms my brain … I could just quiet my soul and let myself meditate while also doing something hands-on.”
When attending these events, Guzman and Odunayo said they are encouraged to “do art related activities” and keep their creativity flowing during leisure time.
These meet-ups provide an opportunity for “socializing with other people who also like art,” regardless of their academic interests, Odunayo said.
“It opens more doors of learning how to do things that I don’t usually do.”
Featured image by Itoro Umanah/the Charlatan.
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