Weber State’s Venture Course in the Humanities helps student connect to the community through art
OGDEN, Utah — For Tawni Jae Sherlock, a student in Weber State University’s Venture Course in the Humanities, art has always been about connection.
A Pacific Islander, Army veteran, and lifelong creative, Sherlock’s artistic practice is shaped by personal experiences with trauma and healing. Working across painting, mixed media, textile arts, and three-dimensional forms, she describes her approach as “crafting,” though she’s quick to point out that it goes far beyond the act of making objects.
“My artistic practice stems from my journey through my mental health battles with PTSD, as well as other life traumas,” Sherlock said.
She describes her work as a way to build connections with her family and others. “In my family, we started ‘Bob Ross paint nights’ or just ‘paint nights,’” she said.
Sherlock discovered the free Venture Course in the Humanities while navigating Weber State’s website as she prepared to return to college. This program offers evening classes in the humanities, taught by college faculty, at no cost to students.
“What drew me to the Venture Course was getting back into college life with free credits,” she said. “Venture accelerated that.”
A key moment for Sherlock came when the class partnered with Ogden Contemporary Arts and met with Suzanne Barge, OCA’s 2025 Artist-in-Residence. Given creative guidelines and space to experiment, Sherlock found vision and momentum in her work.
Not long after, she learned that her artwork had been selected by OCA to be featured on Ogden’s public transit buses: “When I saw that it was featured on many of the OCA’s signs, I began to believe more in myself,” she said.
Professionally, the recognition allowed her to add meaningful, recent work to her portfolio as she transitions into a new career rooted in art and healing. The timing of the public display carried particular significance. Amid leaving a long-term job, uncertainty about employment, and the start of a new academic semester, encountering her artwork on a bus became a visible reminder to keep moving forward.
“I’m in awe that I get to see the bus around the community as a reminder that I can and will make a difference with art and therapy,” she said.
As she continues her studies at Weber State, Sherlock is actively pursuing ways to combine art, education, and community healing. While art therapy licensure is not available in Utah, she remains committed to finding pathways that allow her to support others through creative practice.
To students considering the Venture Course in the Humanities, Sherlock encourages others to take the chance.
“Seeing people in different seasons of life come together to talk openly and respectfully, that’s powerful,” she said. “The Venture Course inspired me to take a leap of faith and change careers.”
Learn more about the Venture Course in the Humanities on the program website. Applications for the fall 2026 cohort are open now, and classes begin Sept. 8. Questions about getting started can be directed to Alex McDonald, Venture director, at alexmcdonald@weber.edu.
Brittany Rocha, Lindquist College of Arts & Humanities
brocha@weber.edu- Contact:
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Brittany Rocha, Lindquist College of Arts & Humanities
brocha@weber.edu