The heat’s on: Art abounds at Ah Haa this summer

07 Apr The heat’s on: Art abounds at Ah Haa this summer

Winter meltdown in Telluride means the Ah Haa School sets its sights on the next big season: the long hot(ish) summer.

For Summer 2010, Ah Haa has increased programming, offering over 140 kids classes in every medium, including sculpting, throwing, painting, beading, jewelry making, cooking, recycled creations, printmaking, theater, drawing and metals to embrace and develop the imagination and creative spirit of each and every child who attends. 

“With long-time favorites as well as many new classes, this summer we truly have something for everyone.  It is going to be a blast,” said Rachel Loomis-Lee, the school’s executive director.

Ah Haa has worked hard over the last few years, cultivating a capable and inspiring staff of instructors able to provide great instruction for young people ages 4 – 18. Brooke Ahana is one of those experts teachers.

Brooke takes students on an acrylic journey in her amazing "Acrylic Adventure" camps, June 21-25. Or, if animal art is the thing for your young artist, there's her "At The Zoo," where working with multiple mediums and materials, kids get to create a menagerie of mythical and zoo animals. Their efforts culminate in a puppet show at the end of the camp.

If clay appeals, the go-to instructors are Jacey Depriest and Julie McNair. June – August, Jacey is teaching a weekly clay camp and various Fabulous Fridays, when children experience the tactile art of ceramics. Julie has revived her popular Rockin’ Robins Birdhouses class and a kids' version of her adult class, Fabulous Figures for Kids, in the clay room.

Add to the list of creative crafts, professional puppeteer Morgan Eckert is in Telluride late June and July, offering students three puppet-making opportunities: Making Marionettes, Parade Puppets, and Shadow Puppets.

Adult faculty member Barbara Martin shows your child how to do amazing things with gourds in her class, "Gourd Art: Masks & Bowls." 

Local Sara Doehrman leads a special four-day Fairy Wings Workshop, July 12-15.

Deep Creek metal-master Jon Hubbard returns with some great offerings for kids. July 26-29, students are exposed to the basics of forging and metal arts, as they work to complete their first wire sculptures. Back by popular demand, Jon is once again teaching "Monster Bikes Welding," August 9-11, when students use recycled bicycle frames and parts to build new two-wheeled works of art. The course is one of the several programs in Ah Haa’s new Youth Discovery Camps aimed at offering new and interesting opportunities for kiddos ages 12+. 

Amy Brown adds diversity to Ah Haa's catalog with her new classes for kids, including "Photography Journals," "Childrens' Book Author-Artist," and "Mural Masters."

Anjali Sawant, who also teaches adult classes this summer, should delight young artists with "Making Monster Dolls" and "Paper Mache Monsters."

Ah Haa mosaics guru Flair Robinson restarts her popular "Mosaic Marathon" class, June 28-July 1.

Chef David Hafer returns with "Top Chef Kids" class, July 12-15.

Rounding out Ah Haa's summer faculty are  popular after-school and No School Art Day faculty artists: Martha Starr and Desiree Rothschild. Starr is teaching almost weekly for the four- to five-year-old age set. Rothschild heads up "Mosaic Magic" and "ARTrageous Beaded Flowers."

Like wearable art? How about painting a self-portrait or learning the techniques of Monet and the other Impressionists? Enjoy cooking up a storm, or shaping metal with fire? Ah Haa School has it all this summer.

“Ah Haa is the sound of inspiration. This summer, we hope to inspire children of all ages,” continues executive director Rachel Loomis-Lee. "To that end, Ah Haa has even reached out to other local not-for-profits in the Telluride community and is collaborating with The Pinhead Institute, The Telluride Skate Camp, and SquidShow Theatre in its continuing efforts to diversify its curriculum."

Camps begin June 7 and continue through August 26. 

To view the full schedule and register for classes online, please visit www.ahhaa.org.