The SVSU Art Gallery and the Students for the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum teamed up to show students a “spooky” good time.

Last week, the gallery and museum offered students some Halloween-themed activities, including a Zombie Walk to raise awareness for the arts on campus, a costume contest, Halloween-themed crafts, as well as a scavenger trick or treat through the art gallery and sculpture museum.

The goal of Spooktacular was to let students have fun while learning more about the gallery and museum.

“I feel like a lot of students don’t even know we exist, or if they do, they automatically think that it is not for them,” said University Art Gallery Director Alaina Plowdrey.

It was in Aug. 2013, during the summer, that Plowdrey took over as director of the art gallery, replacing Dave Littell.

She admitted to having “grand hopes” and began planning new things for the gallery, including more exhibits. She wants to work with others, like the museum, as well as get feedback from students about what they want to see happen. The gallery hopes to do a Thanksgiving can drive, as well as a Christmas pop-up show featuring student artwork.

“We have a great open area in front of the gallery. We should utilize it,” she said.

Plowdrey said she wants to see everyone have a good time around the arts — not just art majors.

“I want this to be a community for students to be creative and have fun,” she said.

On Wednesday, Oct. 30, dozens of students came out for the costume contest, dressing up as a nurse, tree, painter and Frankenstein’s monster, among other things. Plowdrey dressed up as a blue-haired mermaid who just got her legs.

Students enjoyed Halloween-themed treats and made crafts like 3-D pumpkins and cut out bats.

SVSU University Gallery Assistant Alison Bur, who dressed up as Suzy Bishop from Moonrise Kingdom, said their goal is to get students in front of the gallery to see the art.

“We want them to see that we are here and what we can offer them,” she said.

Ashley Boger, president of the Students for the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum, said they wanted to work with the gallery to promote Arbury as a fun place.

“We wanted to help bring a breath of life back into this place,” she said. “Clear the dust and cobwebs, you know.”

Cayhleen Hartley, a secondary education junior, was the mastermind behind the creation of the craft activities. Hartley is a member of Students for the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum.

“We wanted to provide something that was simple enough for everyone to enjoy,” she said. “All this is about awareness, really. We want others to know we have fun too.”