UT Martin has over more than 150 student organizations that you can get involved in.
The Guild of Studio 317 is among those organizations; however, it is quite a hidden gem on campus. The organization is seeking to increase membership because the interest in fiber art is rising among young adults with the help of social media platforms.
TikTok is one of the social media platforms that is responsible for the re-emergence of crocheting, quilting and various other fiber arts. Users can create or watch tutorials to learn the fundamentals of fiber arts.
Now that fiber arts are becoming popular again, Guild of Studio 317 is an accessible outlet on campus for students who are looking for a new hobby to enjoy.
The Guild of Studio 317 was founded in 2010 and advised by David McBeth, a professor of arts at UT Martin. It was known for events such as Cups for the Cure in which the organization handmade cups for people to receive and donate as the proceeds went towards breast cancer awareness.
However, the organization became inactive for some time until 2022. The current president of Guild of Studio 317, Quinn Gilmer, who is a senior Graphic Design major from Bartlett, Tennessee, reestablished it.
“I heard about it from McBeth. I liked the idea of the club, and I just shaped it a little bit because it was purely ceramics-based before. I shaped it to be all arts,” he said.
When Gilmer came to UT Martin as a freshman, he wanted to create an organization based on community service because he believed that people connect by helping others. Gilmer fulfilled that goal when he joined Guild of Studio 317, and it has remained true to its origins since its revival. Members are actively reaching the Martin community and nearby cities such as Memphis through their creations.
“In the fall, there’s always Empty Bowls. It is an event where we hand make ceramic bowls for $15, people can come and get a bowl. The money goes directly to We Care Ministries, which is the food bank and generally helps people that are falling on hard times,” Gilmer said.
They also partnered with Sidney Church from Residence Life who creates care kits for charity. The Guild of Studio 317 has made hats for the homeless and this year they are making stuffed animals to give away. Members have also made baby blankets for the midwifery at Choices Memphis and donated them at Thanksgiving. All in all, the organization thrives off creating art that can make a difference in someone’s life; however strength in numbers amongst the membership depends on whether things can get accomplished.
With Gilmer graduating in May, he hopes to see a rise in membership before his departure. “I would like to get membership up before I leave so that I can leave it to the new vice president. I want to leave her with something tangible that she can work with because running a club is not easy. It’s up to you to decide who’s doing what, how it’s being done, who you’re going to do it,” he said.
For students who have an interest in fiber arts such as crocheting or creating ceramic works, Guild of Studio 317 is an organization that can help teach these arts. It can also be a rewarding experience for students because they can give back to their communities.
The advice Gilmer would give anyone who wants to join the Guild of Studio 317 is, “If you are looking for a community and like giving back to people, the Guild is a great way to do that. If you just show up for one meeting and make something, you’re helping out so much just by being there. Knowing that people do enjoy this idea of a club that gives back, they get something out of it, too. They get a new skill.”
The Guild of Studio 317 meets on Mondays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Center for Women and Gender Equality, which is upstairs in the library.
For more information on the organization, check them out on Instagram: @tgos317.
