Ah Haa: ArtThrob, Joy, Surprise, Artistic Discovery at Winter Gathering, 2/18!

26 Jan Ah Haa: ArtThrob, Joy, Surprise, Artistic Discovery at Winter Gathering, 2/18!

Telluride’s Ah Haa School for the Arts  announces its annual winter gathering. ArtThrob is an evening full of joy, surprise and artistic discovery. The upcoming event – February 18, 6-8pm – is designed to celebrate creativity and community.

Show your love for the arts! Tickets are on sale at ahhaa.org

Browse all Ah Haa’s upcoming classes here!

Go here for more about Ah Haa.

ArtThrob is an annual party that highlights a different programmatic area of Ah Haa each year. In 2023, participation supports access and opportunity for all students to engage with the Visual Arts Program.

The Visual Arts Program spans multiple artistic mediums: painting and drawing, textile arts, jewelry and printmaking.

Party-goers will receive “Color Outside the Lines,” a coloring book featuring original artworks by 21 talented creativesaffiliated with the Visual Arts Program. Curated by Visual Arts Program Director, Natalie Wirsing, the book features Ah Haa students, staff, and instructors alike, all showcasing the diversity and creativity of Telluride’s vibrant artist community. Filled with intricate illustrations and bold, playful prints, each new page is an invitation to unleash your own inner artist and explore new ways of expressing yourself.

Craft cocktails from Lindsey Mills and creative small bites from Chef Perse Vordokas will be served during the event.

Artworks commissioned by Ah Haa, inspired by the event’s vision –  “Art is the heart of the party” – will be available for purchase in the ArtThrob Gallery Showcase.

“Color Outside the Lines” Artists:

Arline Baker, Tracey Belt, Amy Jean Boebel, Brenda Bogart, Malaria Clark, Kellie Day, Jacey Depriest, Tony Finocchio, Dianna Fritzler, Carly Hodes, Dani Laperle, Gavin McGough, Meredith Nemirov, Caroline Schnetzler, Joanie Schwarz, Julie Shelton Smith, Calie Teamer, Nisty Tharp, Ouida Touchón, Kayleigh Weir and Natalie Wirsing

Visual Arts Program Director Natalie Wirsing, more:

Natalie was born and raised in Northwest Indiana, where she grew up enjoying the beaches of Lake Michigan, playing the violin, and riding the train into Chicago for weekend art classes.

In 2017, Natalie was awarded a Bachelor of Science in Arts Management from Indiana University Bloomington, a unique and individualized degree that blends arts marketing, finance, nonprofit management and studio art practice.

After years of professional and self-exploratory visual arts practice, Natalie found a seamless career path forward as an arts administrator and educator. As the Visual Arts Program Director, she showcases her passion for encouraging people to find and hone their creativity.

Visual Arts Program, more:

“At Ah Haa School for the Arts, we value instructors who are passionate about enhancing the lives of others through the arts,” explains Natalie.“Specifically we seek talented, creative, and diverse individuals who embody our mission and core values and have a strong background in arts education.”

That said, for the winter 2023 season, Natalie is pleased to highlight her visiting artist roster, as follows:

• Topher Straus, a Slate Gray artist. He is teaching Social Media Marketing for artists.

• No Parking Studios. The collective artist group out of Tulsa, Oklahoma, is leading a creative entrepreneurial class in collaboration with Ah Haa’s Exhibitions Program.

• Lynda Ray. The artist plans to teach a three-day introductory/intermediate encaustics course.

• Ouida Touchon. The regional artist will lead a series of printmaking workshops.

Ah Haa, more:

Ah Haa School for the Arts‘ new home at the Silver Jack Building (155 W Pacific Ave) is in downtown’s Arts District.

Telluride’s new arts hub is a 10,000 square-foot, purpose-built community center with enhanced studios, thoughtfully designed classrooms, 350 square foot exhibition space, and the Sky Deck Venue that will spark expanded opportunities for participation.

At Ah Haa, we believe that every person harbors an artistic ability and that everyone benefits from discovering and nurturing that creativity.