Alizon Santamaria, Costume Shop Manager and adjunct instructor for the Department of Theatre Arts, recently participated in the university’s first Fix-it Fair, hosted by TU’s Office of Sustainability. Students in her workshop got the opportunity to repurpose an old pair of jeans into an cutlery carrier to keep in their backpack/purse. Along the sustainability theme, the fully washable carrier makes it easier to always have reusable cutlery on the go.
While this event was very much about reducing and reusing, it was also a great reminder of the joys of crafting and creation. Students who had never sewn before surprised themselves with their ability to make a sewn project from start to finish in less than 30 minutes. Additionally, two students discussed how refreshing it was to find a professional who took such joy in their work. (While it was heart-warming and flattering, Alizon assured them that there was plenty of stress waiting for her back in the costume shop!) It was a refreshing reminder that what we do in our building is magical, inspiring and often mind-boggling to those outside COFAC. So if you haven’t done so lately, Alizon suggests you describe your job to a Biology major today, and feel you magic replenished!
