The Classics Club at Wright State University (WSU) gathered to inform students and staff about the Roman artistic practices involved in creating wall paintings and mosaics.
As the end of the academic year approached, the Classics Club turned its focus to the nuances of Roman mosaic construction. It was an artistic practice that gained visibility not only through the skill of artisans but also through the complexity, scale and materials used in each piece.
Antwan Smith, a graduating senior majoring in Classical Languages and Cultures, spoke about the complexities of mosaics.
“The hardest part is understanding what [mosaics] are,” said Smith. “It’d be very difficult to replicate how the mosaics actually work.”
As the event continued, it became clear that a main focus of the event was to show respect and appreciation towards the abilities and pieces put forth during the Roman era.
When asked about why the event was chosen, Paige Warren, the president of the Classics Club, spoke about her love of art.
“I love art in general [but with] my love of art history, my love of Rome [and] my love of Greece, I decided that this would be a pretty fit topic to discuss my enthusiasm for the topic,” Warren said.
As the event went on, attendees were encouraged to try their hand at coming up with their own mosaic patterns and constructing them with construction paper.
Throughout recent years, there has been an increase in mainstream adaptations of the classics with features such as "The Song of Achilles" by Madeline Miller, and "Epic: The Musical." When asked about how the popular adaptations had impacted the public view of the classics, there were a variety of responses.
Molly Devan, the treasurer of the Classics Club, spoke on modern takes of classics rising in popularity.
“I think it’s helped bring classical literature more into the limelight,” said Devan. “It’s made it more approachable for a lot of different people [with] a range of understanding.”
Smith commented on using rising popularity to draw attention back to the value and knowledge within the source materials.
“I like to see the different areas where classics are budding forth,” Smith said. “I would just like to see the norm [shift] and get more into some of the literature, art and mythology."
With many of the current members of the Classics Club graduating, the members addressed their hopes and goals for next year.
“I’m spreading classics for the masses [and] trying to get people interested in the classics,” Warren said. “If [people] are interested in the classics, [I want to] help them find a topic that they’re really interested in, then expand upon it.
If your interest has been piqued by the events of the Classic Club, you can become more involved by attending club meetings during the Fall 2026 Semester or contacting the president of the Classics Club, Paige Warren at warren.154@wright.edu.
