Published on March 25, 2022 by Ashley Smith  
SamGogh

Studio art major Cassidy King transferred to Samford’s School of the Arts this January and is already making a difference in the Samford community.  She is spearheading a new student organization that pairs art with service called Sam Gogh.

“I noticed when I arrived at Samford that we did not have many art related student organizations and with my passion for art education and service along with my good friend Mia Edens, we set out to create a club that encourages everyone to embrace their creativity in the service of others,” said King.

“I've been making art since I was little, but a big pull to the professional art field for me was making it possible for everyone to have equal access to arts education either through schools and universities or through museums and other arts institutions,” said King.

Sam Gogh is going through a provisional period but King hopes that it will be an official club by this fall.  “Currently, our potential members amount to 27 with more than half being SOA students. I hope to impact the local community and student body to embrace their natural ability for creativity as we were all created by a Grand Designer and Divine Artist, and I hope that we will be able to bring access to the arts to those who do not have it readily available,” said King.

The first Sam Gogh project combined efforts with Samford Gives Back in March and assisted with three murals for Cahaba Valley Health Care, a local non-profit that provides dental and vision services for people in financial need in both Jefferson and Shelby counties. “They wanted murals in two patient rooms and in their waiting room which we were so happy to design and paint for them. I think our team did an amazing job with the projects! Big thank you to Chrissy Williamsen and Kathryn Roe for their designs along with my own!” said King.

Sam Gogh and King have a heart for service. “I hope to continue to give back to the community using the arts to bring joy and spark creativity in others and am excited for any new opportunities that may arise in the future!” King said.

 

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.