Your Ah Haa Moment: Visiting artists at Telluride’s community arts center

Telluride's Ah Haa School for the Arts presents several special workshops throughout 2010 featuring regionally and nationally renowned artists, part of the school's popular Visiting Artist Program.

Ah Haa's Visiting Artist program offers one- to five-day workshops for aspiring and seasoned artists alike.  With one workshop nearly every month of the year, students get to hone their skills in watercolors, pastel and oil painting, mixed media, pottery, photography and writing.

“People from all over the country come to Telluride to study with our Visiting Artists,” explained Rachel Loomis-Lee, Ah Haa’s program manager/executive director.  “What a privilege to get to  work with these master artists right in our own backyard. The Visiting Artist Program is one of the crown jewels of the Ah Haa School’s extensive offerings. Many of these workshops will fill quickly, so be sure to register soon.”

Telluride's Ah Haa School kicks off the Program with master ceramicist Diana Fayt, June 4-6. Fayt guides students through discussions about the elements of design, how to push the boundaries, and see pieces as limitless surfaces for expressing your visual ideas.

Join award-winning Chef Tina Luu in a culinary retreat: "Exploring Telluride’s Bounty: Stretching the Body and Taste Buds," July 5-9.  Students start the day with an energizing yoga class, then move into the kitchen to learn the ins and outs of a variety of hands-on cooking techniques. 

“The opportunities to explore your creativity are boundless at the Ah Haa School,” continued Loomis-Lee. 

Ah Haa's Visiting Artist schedule also includes: "Pastel Landscape Painting" with well-known artist Bruce Gomez, July 16-18, "Mixed Media Collage and Watercolor" with former Telluride resident Susie Billings, June 11-13, and "Capturing the Landscapes in Oil," June 21-24, with Jeanne Mackenzie, who teaches students to capture the moment against the backdrop of the breathtaking San Juans. 

Later in the year, Kent Harris and Elmer Taylor teach aspiring potters the art of creating unique surface decorations in "Scratching the Surface ," August 20-22. 

Learn to photograph Telluride's formdiable landscape in full fall colors in Dave Edward’s "Making a Strong Photograph" workshop,September 9-11. 

 “We are thrilled to expose folks in the Telluride region to so many opportunities to explore their creativity, learn new skills – and have fun.  Each of our Visiting Artists offers one-on-one instruction and brings new approaches to their mediums in every class.," adds Loomis-Lee. “Additional Visiting Artist workshops are in the works for later in 2010, so stay tuned.”

 For more information about all of Ah Haa School’s 2010 programs, as well as details about scholarships and work-study, please call  728-3886 or rachel@ahhaa.org or visit www.ahhaa.org.

(photos courtesy of the Ah Haa School for the Arts)