Every Tuesday night, after a long day in the studio, dozens of SAIC students find their way to Block 37’s First Ascent. Their mission? To rock climb.
SAIC’s Climbing Club may be a newer extracurricular, but it’s quickly growing in numbers and grip strength. Carmela Murphy (BFA 2024) and JJ Galloway (BFA 2023) first started Climbing Club in Spring 2022. According to Murphy, when they first began holding climbing club sessions, about eight to ten students attended. Now, they have around 270 students signed up for the club with around 60 people regularly attending weekly meetings.
Wilson (BFA 2027) hangs around while explaining a climbing-solution to a fellow club member. Photos by Sidne K. Gard and Teddie Bernard
Climbing Club has become a sanctuary for many artists at SAIC who have felt isolated by some classroom and campus environments. Because of the collaborative process of climbing, it’s an easy environment to meet friends for both those who are brand new to climbing and those who have climbed it all.
“For me, it’s really meditative but it’s also great exercise,” said club member, Maddie Kordell. (BFA 2027).
“I came to SAIC, and I transitioned. I kind of thought that sports was something I was going to give up, at least that was my expectation. I met some people who were climbers, and they brought me to this gym, to the climbing club, and I realized I didn’t have to give it up. I fell in love with climbing,” said June Thomas (BFA 2025). Thomas is one of the Climbing Club’s current leaders.
Climbing Club has also started a climbing team, separate from their club meetings. Murphy has five years of coaching experience that she uses to create the lesson plans for the climbing team.
Fionn Kelly (BFA 2025) loves to climb! Look at them go.
The climbing team is currently SAIC’s only registered sports team. They will be competing in the USA Climbing Collegiate Division. Their first meet will take place Dec. 3 at First Ascent Humboldt Park and is the qualification for nationals. At this qualifying meet, SAIC’s climbing team will compete with climbers from across the Midwest.
Sports and art are often seen as opposing forces, but members of Climbing Club push back against that narrative. Trying to get support from the school sometimes feels like the journey of climbing a mountain. While the club has received support, they often find their next steps are up an even steeper hill.
Climbing Club climbs every Tuesday night in Block 37’s First Ascent gym. Pinzhu Yu (BFA 2027) climbs in the foreground while in the background, club leader June Thomas helps club members come up with solutions to climbing puzzles.
“I think the school should support our movement groups more and put more faith in our students to build the communities they want to build,” said Thomas.
“Each climb is like a puzzle. To solve the puzzle, it’s about moving your body creatively,” Carmela Murphy explained At the start of every club meeting, Murphy takes time to teach new members the basics of climbing.
Emma Crowley (BFA 2025) focuses on getting closer to the top of the climb with each step.
