Inside Art House: A Creative and Close-Knit Residential Community at Gettysburg College
Students living in Art House, one of the College’s theme houses, sitting in their common room. (William Oehler/The Gettysburgian)
By Ainsley Green, Staff Writer, and Katie Lauriello, Lead Copy Editor
Gettysburg College is home to 18 unique housing options that focus on fostering connections between students with a variety of interests, from the arts to STEM. A relatively new addition to the themed houses on campus is Art House, which is home to ten students this year. This is the second year students have lived in Art House, and interest and participation in their community continues to rise. As the name suggests, Art House builds a community of art appreciators and creators alike, no matter what academic major the residents are, and aims to bring art into the lives of the residents and to the campus in a unique way.
The mission of Art House in the College House Directory echoes that message. According to their statement, the house is “a haven for art enthusiasts and creative souls alike,” where they believe in celebrating the “beauty, expression, and diversity of artistic endeavors.”
“Whether you are an avid art collector, a budding artist seeking inspiration or simply someone who appreciates the beauty of creative expression, Art House welcomes you to experience a world where art transcends boundaries and enriches lives,” the statement reads.
Art House is not only a residential community but also an outlet for creative-minded students to collaborate with other campus groups. House leader Maddy Swicord ’26 joined Art House as soon as she heard about it. Although she has created art her whole life, she had little desire to pursue the subject academically and struggled to find ways to express her passion with other people outside of that area. Swicord took the position of house leader because of the opportunity to grow her leadership skills and have a greater impact on the art community at the College.
“[Art House] allowed me to stay in the art world without having to commit to it on a schedule, and it was more substantial than just being in an art club because I was living in a place dedicated to art,” said Swicord.
“I love Art House, and I feel nothing but lucky to be the house leader of Art House for a second year. Being a house leader is an incredible opportunity to shape a vibrant, inclusive community where artists on campus feel welcomed and valued. This is because the social culture that Art House creates is one of inclusivity, positivity and creativity,” said Swicord.
Xander Romendio ’27, a member of Listeners & Performers, spent a lot of time in Art House, finding his way to the space through friends as a first-year. Now, he is a member of the residential community and continues to make memories with his housemates.
“The events we host are also always super enjoyable and I can’t wait to see what they attract for next year!” said Romendio, reflecting on how events hosted by Art House are grabbing people’s attention around campus.
From the beginning, the events at Art House have captured the attention of the campus community. As one of the newer houses, Swicord had little expectations that people would attend their first event of the semester. She planned an event to make tote bags with first years on Aug. 22, one of several events hosted by the college houses to introduce incoming students to the housing program. She bought a few bags, certainly not enough for the 40 students who showed up that night.
The tote bag decoration event set the tone for the rest of the semester. Swicord saw this in a recent event, recalling, “My favorite house event was the Halloween party we had in collaboration with Farm House and Education House. Listeners & Performers performed, with three different bands playing a mix of covers and original music.”
The passions of Listeners & Performers, a group of musicians performing gigs around Gettysburg, and Farm House, another residential community promoting sustainability, meshed with those of the residents of Art House, culminating in an event to remember.
“Our own residents were a huge part of the live music performance, and everyone else came in costumes that really showed their creative artistic abilities,” said Swicord. “When someone lives in Art House, they are welcomed into an artistic support system.”
Another example of a popular collaboration event is Emo Nite, which also took place in October in the Attic. Listeners & Performers bands No Lamps and Midnight Crisis took the stage to provide live music for the event, and it was planned by many of the themed houses on campus, including Art House, Blue Note Jazz House and Harmony House. Each house’s community focus came to life in planning the event, creating an atmosphere that was welcoming to many students on campus.
“Having Art House on campus adds a lot to the art community because it allows for people to live in housing that will give them social opportunities. It allows them to take that interest into their social life. It’s more than their academic life,” said Swicord.
Swicord plans to keep up the momentum in their events for the rest of the semester. In December, Art House plans to host a Christmas card photo shoot, where students can take pictures of themselves or their friends to send to others for Christmas. In the spring, she has even more events in the works. As the Art Genre Head of the Mercury, Swicord is also thinking of hosting an art submission event in the spring.
“I have loved living in Art House and I knew I would before I even moved in,” said Romendio. “Maddy Swicord, the house leader, does such a good job making the building feel inviting,” attributing a part of the success of the house to being based on student leadership.
Emily Kreider ’24 is another resident of the house this semester, who joined the group after getting a positive recommendation from her friends. Beyond the events hosted by the house itself, Kreider brings her passion for supporting her housemates to their own events, like the Rocky Horror Picture Show and Listeners & Performers.
“Art House supports every kind of artist– it’s a community where we not only create art but also form connections with each other and each other’s passions,” said Kreider.
This article originally appeared on page 18 and 19 of the No. 1 December 2024 edition of The Gettysburgian magazine.
