Ah Haa: Inaugural Teen Fellowship Opens May Exhibition, “New Markers”!

09 May Ah Haa: Inaugural Teen Fellowship Opens May Exhibition, “New Markers”!

Conceived and inaugurated by Ah Haa School for the Art’s Visual Arts Manager, Lulu Priddy, the Ah Haa Teen Fellowship is a 16-week intensive (January-May 2025) for high school students in the San Miguel Watershed.

Opening Reception & Artist Talk May 16, 5:00-6:30. Special MountainFilm Artwalk May 23. Teen Fellowship Program Information and Exhibition Information.

Go here for more about Ah Haa.

Designed to cultivate emerging talent, the Fellowship offers participants practical experience and is designed to help burgeoning artists develop their portfolios, build their resumes and artistic skills, while pursuing an independent project in the medium of their choice.

The 2025 cohort is made up of eight students: Wilder Anderson, Rachel Beard, Paige Downer, Hazel Frerichs, Winter Jacobson, Marilyn Jones, Hannah Jurecki and Koi Kirkwood. Their independent projects span diverse mediums: ceramics, acrylic painting, metals, charcoal, embroidery, graffiti, illustration, and design.

Throughout the semester, Fellows balanced individual studio work with engaging group workshops. These workshops covered essential topics such as writing artist statements, and self-promotion and included studio visits with local and visiting artists.

Fellows were able to experience several visiting artists who exhibited at Ah Haa earlier this year. Namely, Otis Kriegel of the NYC-based art collective Illegal Art, led a workshop on the importance of creating everyday, building community and developing participatory art activities. Fellows also attended Kriegel’s public artist talk to see first-hand how his artist collective of over 20 years practices those principles, publishes books and remains active in their community.

“It’s amazing to make something with your own hands and mind, and then see it come to life right in front of you,” says Fellow, Winter Jacobson, aged 17.

Fellows also gained behind-the-scenes insight into an arts non-profit by assisting with tasks around the school, shadowing staff, and auditing classes at
Ah Haa.

Additionally, the Fellowship program provides exploratory coursework, art supplies and paid time for the teen participants.

Ah Haa also offered financial support for each student’s projects through its proposed budgets and allotted stipends.

The Teen Fellowship culminates in May’s Exhibition, “New Markers,” a group show in the Daniel Tucker Gallery, where Fellows will present their work to the community on opening night, May 16th at 5:00pm. Teens in the Ah Haa Fellowship program not only created the works showcased in this exhibition, they also co-curated the show, devised exhibition concepts, layout and design, and led the installation processes.

About Ah Haa School for the Arts:

For 30 years, Ah Haa School for the Arts has become the community center for arts and culture in Telluride and Southwest Colorado communities.

Ah Haa is delighted to bring truly innovative art to the Southwest. Its mission is to create joy and community through art.

For more information, please visit https://ahhaa.org/