A canvas hung outside the dining hall.
In the morning, it was a solid blue bed sheet, but by evening, it was a piece of artwork that included three dolphins, two alien invasions and a sunset over the ocean.
Paul Wislotski, 54, spent the weekend outside Gator Corner Dining Center, offering oil pastels and blank bed sheets to passers-by.
Wislotski, who drives cabs when he’s home in Largo, Fla., spent three days at UF this weekend as a part of his two-year university tour.
Though many professed a lack of artistic ability, Wislotski eventually convinced about 200 students to cover two blue sheets with colors, designs and animals.
“C’mon, put your personality up here,” Wislotski said to one reluctant student. “Don’t think, just go.”
The rules were simple: No words or symbols, and don’t cover anyone else’s artwork.
He’s displayed what he calls “collective art” in each of the 50 state capitals. Now, he said, he hopes to hitchhike his way to at least two universities in each state.
Wislotski said he set up his first collective art piece in 1994 during the 25th anniversary of Woodstock. After setting up easels in small towns outside the 1996 Olympics, he decided he wanted to bring the art across the country. Eventually, he found his way to UF.
“About a year ago, I got to thinking universities would be a good place to bring this message to young people,” said Wislotski.
Melissa Lore, a 19-year-old UF pharmacy freshman, was coaxed to contribute to the project Sunday afternoon.
“It’s cool to add — not necessarily draw your own thing — but adding to others,” she said.
Though Wislotski openly said he shared the art “to lift up to Jesus” as part of his work as a Christian missionary, he said bringing his idea of collective art to young people and their families was equally important.
“I want young people to know that their voices can be heard,” said Wislotski.
[A version of this story ran on page 3 on 3/24/2014 under the headline "Traveling artist asks UF students to draw their personalities"]
Coral Hawking, a 19-year-old UF applied physiology and kinesiology freshman, colors on a blue bed sheet as part of Paul Wislotski’s collective art project outside Gator Corner Dining Center on Sunday afternoon. Wislotski is trying to hitchhike to at least two universities in every state.
