Art Break

Graphic identity with a purple rectangle on the top half and a white rectangle on the bottom half. The text reads "ART BREAK at MIT List Visual Arts Center"

With mental rejuvenation in mind, Art Break is a space for students to tinker and be creative by way of drop-in periods scheduled during finals season. Art supplies and calming beverages are placed in the List Center atrium as an invitation for students to take a minute and destress.

Spring 2025

Made in collaboration with MIT’s AeroAstro Department Resources for Easing Friction and Stress (dREFS), the List Center created this semester’s Art Break activity with Jasmine Jerry Aloor, a PhD candidate in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics. It featured infused waters, snacks provided by dREFS, and supplies to create a wire object with two balanced counterweights.

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Plastic sign holder, a QR code to the right of the sign and a plant to the right of that on a table with a black tablecloth. The text reads "Art Break At MIT List Visual Arts Center"
Aerial view showing the hands of two people making kinetic sculptures out of wire and beads. There is a black tray with more supplies on the table in between the two people.
Two hands folding a red piece of paper. There is a small mobile with a green paper lantern to the left side of the hands, a group of paper clips and a stack of unfolded paper in front of the hands, and scissors with another wire mobile to the right of the hands.

Fall 2024

Featuring hot MEM tea and origami, this drop-in period invited students to create an origami cube or try their hand at other folds.

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Two hands folding colorful geometric paper. There is a white mug of tea to the left side of the hands and a stack of unfolded paper in the foreground.
Overhead view of two hands folding colorful geometric paper. There is a white mug of tea to the left side and a stack of unfolded paper to the right.
Aerial view of four cubes made out of origami paper sitting on a pile of origami paper on a light wood table.