Art student Brinkerhuff is a busy bee

By Mallory Stiles
Staff Writer

The LCC art wing is in the basement of the Gannon Building and is filled with warm and whimsical instructors teaching bright and vibrant student-artists. The atmosphere is that of a bee hive; always buzzing.

Lansing native Brooke Brinkerhuff is one of the busiest bees, currently taking four classes and working a part-time job at a local bakery.  

“I work at BJ’s Wholesale Club in the bakery department in West Lansing,” Brinkerhuff said. “I love to bake, so it works out and I learned how to decorate cakes, which is something I always wanted learn.”

She is currently taking Intro to Painting, Intro to Literature, Music Appreciation and Gender and Literature, but has a wide variety of interests.

“Last spring, I took yoga for fun,” she said. “It was amazing and definitely has been one of my favorite courses. I don’t have a lot of spare time, but when I do crochet and read.”

Brinkerhuff, who will turn 19 on Oct. 10, is close to finishing her general associate degree and has a graduation date set for Dec. 11 of this year.

After graduation, she plans to move out of state to continue her education in hopes of becoming a book editor for a publishing house. She also hopes to continue to be an involved activist against climate change.

“My mom is my main influence,” Brinkerhuff said. “She is crazy smart and she has done a little of everything. She was an artist in high school, then she got a degree in cosmetology.

“After that, she went back to LCC to get a software engineering degree. She is now a software developer and makes robots in her spare time. She is my inspiration.”

Brinkerhuff loves books. She said her favorite book now is “The Secret History” by Donna Tartt. She also loves her dachshund “Honey” and to travel.

“I went to France when I was 15 and it gave me a deep appreciation for the French countryside,” Brinkerhuff. “For a while I wanted to move there, but it was too expensive. Maybe someday.”

Her best friend, Meg Schlattman, is usually at the canvas next to her, waving her own paint brush.

“She is the most fun,” Schlattman said. “She knows what people need and always matches the vibe. She is very hardworking. She spends hours and hours on a single painting. She is like my sister.”

Brinkerhuff said she tries to treat everyone with kindness.

“My favorite quote,” Brinkerhuff said, “is, ‘and anyway, it’s the same old story – a few people just trying, one way or another, to survive. Mostly, I want to be kind,’ by Mary Oliver.”