Hear Me: Teen Exhibition

January 22-February 20, 2021 Center for the arts evergreen

Hear Me Teen Show I think everyone, young and old, can relate to the challenges and darkness that we faced in 2020. However, for many of our children, 2020 provided the perfect storm for the challenges they were already facing. Although much of the artwork in this show focuses on isolation, frustration...the darkness, Hear Me presents a call to action and a time for reflection There is so much we can learn from our children; they may be complicated and sometimes misunderstood, but they are also resilient and acutely aware of the world that surrounds them. I have used this quote many time, but I think it is important to take the time to remind with these simple words: Always remember that you are braver than you believe, stronger than you see, and smarter than you think. —Winnie the Pooh I encourage you to take a moment to listen to all of our children. I am grateful to provide a platform where they can be heard. Remember, sometimes the best commentary is not what we say, but what we see.

As you walk around the exhibit, please note that it was curated by our new Teen Council. With Sara’s guidance, they started with jurying the artwork, and then began the process of patching, painting, curating, hanging, and promoting. I am in awe of their hard work. Thank you to all of them for their time and passion to make a difference.

And to Sara, thank you for your leadership and commitment.

Finally, none of this would be possible with the wonderful support of our sponsors: Lynn Westfall of RE/MAX Alliance and Bruce Anderson of Farmers Insurance. Thank you for all that you do for the Center for the Arts Evergreen and for our community.

Lisa Nierenberg Executive Director

Center for the Arts Evergreen

Hear Me is an art exhibition created at the Center for the Arts Evergreen (CAE) in Evergreen, Colorado. CAE is a registered nonprofit that has been in existence for 45 years. CAE’s mission is to enrich and serve our mountain community by promoting and cultivating the arts through quality educational programming, exhibitions, and events. Hear Me runs from January 22-February 20, 2021. This exhibition would not have been possible without the help of so many artists, businesses, volunteers, the CAE Teen Council, and the CAE board and staff.

Center for the Arts Evergreen Executive Director: Lisa Nierenberg Director of Exhibitions, Education & Marketing: Sara Miller Events Managers & Administrative Assistant: Jordan Gill Accounting Manager: Tom Maxey Board President: Kristin Witt CAE Teen Council: Samantha Ferguson (CAE Teen Curator), Mia Anderson,Val Heidarsson, Ella Howell, Riley McIntosh, Alex Miller,Violet Penny

Thank you to our sponsors

What is Hear Me? In May of 2020 Center for the Arts Evergreen reopened its doors after seven weeks of being shuttered. Lisa and I sat under our tent in front the building brainstorming about the future of CAE. We wanted CAE to be a welcoming place that opened minds, spurred thoughtful conversations, and introduced our community to new artists and ideas. An all-teen show was the first exhibition that we settled on. I still have my hastily-scratched notes from the moment we decided on the theme: Hear Me. Today’s youth are the first generation in more than 100 years that has been faced with so many obstacles all at once: political unrest, cultural chasms cracked wide open, forced isolation, and remote schooling due to a global pandemic. Being a teen is hard enough, but it’s a tall order to navigate your path to adulthood in the midst of all of these other challenges. 2020 was a year of loud voices and incessant chatter—a year when finding the time to really listen to our youth was harder than ever.

Amanda Gorman, our National Youth Poet Laureate said, “Poetry is typically the touchstone that we go back to when we have to remind ourselves of the history that we stand on, and the future that we stand for.” I would expand on Gorman’s thoughts and say that art in all of its forms is what people of all ages revisit or create when we need to process our emotions...when we are desperately seeking authentic human connection...when we need to be heard!

Amanda Gorman’s poem, “The Miracle of Morning” says, While we might feel small, separate, and all alone, Our people have never been more closely tethered.

The question isn’t if we will weather this unknown, But how we will weather this unknown together.

In a New York Times interview, Gorman said that she set out to write a poem that would inspire hope and foster a sense of collective purpose. It is my belief that the first step in building that collective purpose and “weathering the unknown” is to listen. Hear Me is the beginning of that journey. The call for submissions for this show was open to any student aged 13-18 in the state of Colorado. We received 106 submissions from 20 different high schools. The final show contains 48 two-dimensional and three-dimensional pieces of original artwork from student artists representing 15 schools.

These student artists answered the call loud and clear—Hear Me! Much of their art is an expression of suffering, whether it is their own, their friends, or suffering for the world.

Although it may be somber, the artwork is also an expression of hope. The artwork and artists in this show are asking us to listen. If we truly listen to our kids, allow ourselves to be moved by their cathartic expression of suffering, then we can begin to answer their calls for a better world.

Not only was the artwork created by teens, but it was also selected by teens. I feel privileged to work alongside our Teen Curator, Samantha Ferguson, a junior at Conifer High School, to lead CAE’s new Teen Council. The Council is composed of seven area teens from three different schools. Their first in-person meeting was to select the pieces for Hear Me. I was truly touched by how thoughtful and collaborative they were—taking the time to analyze every submission from the perspective of theme, technical ability, and composition.

Most importantly, they had long conversations about the pieces that spoke to them and the reasons why. It was imperative to the Teen Council that the artwork shed light on real issues like teen suicide or eating disorders but not sensationalize or romanticize these issues. They were eager to ensure that all topics were represented: climate change, LGBTQ representation, mental health issues, social justice, body image, and the day-to-day struggles of a 21st-century teenager during these unique times.

Hear Me is an exhibition that recognizes the power of our young people, acknowledges their desires for change, and helps them find their voice through art. We are forever grateful to our show sponsors and our incredibly supportive community for giving us the chance to highlight the importance of art as a platform for this expression.

Sara Miller Senior Director of Exhibitions and Education, Center for the Arts Evergreen

Exhibition Awards Best in Show: 2nd Place: 3rd Place: Best 3-D Artwork: Best Artist Statement: Honorable Mention: Honorable Mention: Honorable Mention:

Aspen Shih for When the Birdcage Breaks Abigail Arnold for Boiling Point Grace Vega for Your Kid Michael Braunagel for Thrown Away Rachael Sanchez for Childish Politics Alison Braun for An Expensive Fix Ali Carter for Perfect George Bauer for I’m Just Tired

CAE Teen ARTS council My name is Samantha Ferguson. I’m in 11th grade at Conifer High School. I’m currently working as the head of the Teen Council here at CAE. Along with music and other sports, art has been a big part of my life, from painting and drawing as a young kid to having the opportunity to paint a mural in CAE’s classroom last summer. I enjoy playing guitar, climbing, and going on adventures with my family and friends.

I have loved working on the Hear Me show with CAE and everyone that’s been involved.We were so thrilled to get so many amazing entries despite the challenges of the pandemic.The process of bringing this show together was an inspiration—seeing all the ways other teens portrayed and expressed themselves. 2020 engendered so many frustrating emotions, and I am honored to be a part of bringing people together to listen to the lost voices of teens in our communities.

Hi! My name is Mia Anderson and I am a junior at Evergreen High School. I love to play tennis, draw, spend time with my friends, and write short stories!

I absolutely love this show. Not only the amazing art,which people put so much time and effort into, but the overall message of this show. Hear Me can be about so much: mental health, discrimination, even society as whole. It’s so important to share this message and have our voices heard, and it’s even cooler when it’s done through incredible art like this.

My name is Val Heidarsson. I’m 14, and I am a part of the CAE Teen Arts Council. I am an artist, I play guitar and bass, and most of my life revolves around music.

I was absolutely blown away by the amount of talent, thought, and effort put into every single artwork.

I found it so interesting how each artist expressed their own emotions and beliefs in their work. Every artist expressed something that they felt strongly about, whether that be current worldwide events, things that they deal with in their personal lives, their feelings or emotions, or really anywhere in between! Amazing job to all the artists who put their artwork out there!!

My name is Ella Howell, and I am so excited to be on the Teen Arts Council this year! I am a sophomore at Evergreen High School. I love all sorts of different arts. I’m always drawing in my sketchbook and painting on random miscellaneous objects. I also play guitar, piano, and sing.

This show is an incredible representation of all the talent and passion that our local mountain community teens have for the arts.This show is truly a gift, each artist put so much thought and hard work into their pieces. I hope you all enjoy and have a fantastic time!

My name is Riley McIntosh, and I am a sophomore at Evergreen High School. I play tennis, field hockey, and I run cross country. I enjoy spending time with friends and being outside.

The artwork that has been created is incredible and inspiring. I think it’s awesome that teens are creating this artwork and representing their creativity. It is such a fun thing to see the community coming together and to be able to see what people are creating.There are so many talented artists, and I am so excited to be a part of the teen council.

My name is Alex Miller and I am a sophomore at Conifer High School. I joined the Teen Council because I have a passion for photography and music, and I wanted an opportunity to be involved in the arts community. When I’m not taking pictures or editing the school yearbook, I ride for our high school mountain bike team; I ski competitively Freeride/Big Mountain events; and I am violinist for the Colorado Youth Symphony Orchestra.

I feel like this show we have put together is really a fantastic showcase of all the issues on teens’ minds today.With all of the current events going on, we live in a crazy world, and art is a great way to express one’s emotions in a constructive way.Through our selection process, the council really wanted to choose pieces that showed how teens are feeling, and issues that are important to them.We had 20 local schools who had students submit artwork, and the council was able to narrow down the number of pieces to showcase the issues on teen’s minds.The Teen Arts Council, in association with Center of the Arts Evergreen, is so happy to present Hear Me.We hope you enjoy!

My name is Violet Penny. I am in 8th grade at Evergreen Middle School. My hobbies are art, tennis, and skiing. My interests are reading, writing, and animating. I also enjoy spending time with my friends.

I really enjoyed so many of the pieces that we were able to put into the art show, and I really appreciate how I was one of the amazing individuals chosen for the Council who got to help decide. I look forward to many more events that are to come, and I am very glad that I get to help with them. I really enjoy being here and I’m sure the further we go, the better it gets.

Hear Me 2nd PLACE

Abigail Arnold

Age: 15 Boulder High School Boiling Point

Acrylic on canvas 24 x 20 $350

With Boiling Point, I wanted to express my rage at the systemic racism still festering in America. This piece is my reaction to the horrific murders of George Floyd and so many others in our country.

Grace Austin

Age: 17 Arapahoe High School Invisible Wounds Ceramic 30 x 9.25 $400

This was an experimental piece that explores the parts of myself that lack the personal freedoms I was once promised. I would like the public to finally hear my voice and realize we as a civilization are still oppressive even in a first world country. I recognize that I’ve been very fortunate growing up in the environment that I have, but I’ve still felt that some of my freedoms have been taken away because of who I am as a person. Each face is supposed to be me and the wounds are the physical representation of the damage the lack of simple freedoms has caused on me as a whole. From left to right the faces represent a lack of equality because of my gender and sexuality; lack of freedom of speech because many people view my opinions as unworthy to listen to; lack of knowledge because the people leading our country keep information hidden from the public to make themselves look good; and lack of expression because of gender norms and the pressures of social media.

Hear Me HONORABLE MENTION

George Bauer

Age: 15 Golden High School I’m Just Tired Photograph 8 x 24 $100

I’ve been dealing with mental health issues since the 4th grade, with the big ones being anxiety and depression. These are very real problems that are arising in today’s youth, and it feels like nobody really takes them seriously. Countless times people have asked me if I’m OK, and a simple, “Yeah man, I’m just a little tired,” seems to work when it’s obvious something is wrong.

People like to say, “Well, it always gets better.” To be fair, it does get better, but people can feel really low and helpless, and I would advise against telling them that everything gets better; they might not see those days because the pain never stops for them. People can be surrounded by people who love them and things that interest them, but they can still fall victim to these mental illnesses.

Elizabeth Bean

Age: 15 Evergreen High School End as it Begins Graphite 12 x 8 $120

This piece is of great importance to me because I believe that in our society it is more often than not that teens’ voices are spoken over when it comes to our lives.

No matter how divided or different we may seem, it’s imperative to see, to speak, and to acknowledge our problems and our faults so we can all work together to fix them and create a better future before it’s too late.

Violette Beaupre Age: 15 Golden High School Retrospective

Digital Photograph 11 x 17 $55

In order for history to look kindly on us, we have to listen to the voices of today and hear what they have to say. In my picture, there is a gaping hole where a window used to be and a boarded off door, which is a direct reflection of the state of our country today. We can’t continue to bar doors; we have to open them to change and at the heart of our nation we have a broken system that needs to be fixed.

August Blackmer Age: 16 Conifer High School Revolt 2020

Watercolor on canvas $100 14 x 11

In the Summer of 2020, the fight for equality raged across the world. Still today we say their names to make a change. Black Lives Matter today, tomorrow, and always.

Hear Me HONORABLE MENTION

Alison Braun

Age: 17 Conifer High School An Expensive Fix Ceramic $350 11 x 6

I adored the theme of this art show because I truly believe my generation has the power and capability of not only educating but also moving the world with creativity and experience in the unspoken truths that are surfacing about our kind. I chose to create a very detailed and vile mouth. The inspiration was the initial spark of my ongoing anxiety that was brought on by the bloodcurdling dentist.

Hear Me BEST 3-D ARTWORK

Michael Braunagel Age: 16 Golden High School Thrown Away

Ceramic, acrylic, and found objects $1,000 24 x 19 x 11

Water and air—both are essential for life. Yet, we have used them like a global trash can, suffocating animals; suffocating ourselves.

Ali Carter

Age: 17 Boulder High School Breaking Point Digital illustration $200 8 x 10

As a senior in high school trying to balance life, school, college applications, and still seeing friends, it is increasingly difficult and some days it feels like the whole world is falling apart. Breaking Point was created entirely in my handwriting, my thoughts and concerns about the future, and issues I face. Behind the mirror are things that I have been told about my concerns, adults brushing it off saying it’s not that bad or I should get over it, but as many teens can relate, even small problems can add up.

Ali Carter

Age: 17 Boulder High School Coping

Photograph $100 10 x 8

Many teens seem to believe that drugs can be used to escape the pressures and anxieties of life as a one-time fix. More often than not, that one time escape becomes a daily routine. This piece is a peek into the reality of being a teenager, the struggles that we face behind closed doors and away from the eyes of society and adults.

Ali Carter

Age: 17 Boulder High School Full

Photograph and digital illustration $200 10 x 8

The conversation about mental health and eating disorders is not brought up enough. Full is about watching yourself slip into negative patterns and doing nothing to stop yourself as you slowly deteriorate. I’ve seen too many people go down this road and many more will continue to if nobody speaks up.

Hear Me HONORABLE MENTION

Ali Carter

Age: 17 Boulder High School Perfect

Photography $200 10 x 8

I wanted to showcase a person’s inability to be considered perfect in the eyes of society. Teens especially try to change how they look to fit the social standard of beauty, constantly comparing themselves to what they see on social media. Perfect is intentionally gruesome as a way to show the negative effects of comparison in a way that cannot be ignored.

Ainsley Clagett

Age: 15 Conifer High School Recycled Drama

Fabrics and recycled materials NFS

This dress is made out of recycled materials. The skirt is a trampoline net, the fabrics are all repurposed and the boning is made from zip-ties. I like to make dresses out of recycled materials. I get inspiration from the materials.

Lisca De Jager

Age: 16 Evergreen High School Comfort in Pride Mechanical and colored pencil $25 14 x 18

Although pride festivities were shut down in 2020, that doesn’t mean the feeling was. This year people found comfort in the community they are a part of. This piece shows someone who has blanketed themselves in some of the flags as a way of warmth.

Kendall Edwards Age: 17 Legend High School Priceless

Digital Illustration $200 21.5 x 17.5

This piece was inspired by indigenous peoples’ intricate clothing and the persistent issue of cultural appropriation and historical ignorance. One’s culture is something that cannot be bought; history is not something that can be ignored. This is a message that does not just apply to Native Americans.

Greta Gardner

Age: 18 Golden High School Behind the Mask Charcoal and colored pencil $200 13 x 17

I have witnessed mental health, especially among teens, fluctuate and become a problem that is increasing in severity. As the pandemic persists, I have seen mental health worsen, as well as improve. However, we have reached a disconnect—we cannot see these emotions behind the mask.

Maia Glenney

Age: 17 New Vista High School Like Movement Through Honey Watercolor and ink on watercolor paper $500 15 x 11

Like Movement Through Honey is a piece I did a year or so ago about growth. I think it’s really easy to get discouraged in these challenging times because growth can happen painfully slowly, especially when we need it the most. I wish I could be as patient as a plant. It can take them weeks to grow a single leaf, and even though that leaf could be destroyed in seconds they still continue to grow. Remember, just because change takes time doesn’t mean it isn’t valuable.

Nikki Greenhalgh Age: 17 Legend High School

Does This Piece Make You Uncomfortable?

Digital illustration $50 11 x 17

When asked about a book in which the Capitol is stormed by those opposed to basic freedom, we are appalled. But when asked about the news station broadcasting the Capitol being stormed by those opposed to basic freedom, many turn their heads. Many try to pretend that things like this don’t happen in the real world. It makes them uncomfortable. Look again—feel that discomfort. Let yourself feel sick to your stomach.

Because if you’re not uncomfortable, you’re not paying enough attention.

Alma Gutierrez

Age: 15 Golden High School Trapped Freedom

Photography and digital art $150 15 x 10

My piece is called Trapped Freedom and the reasoning is because during these pandemic times there has been an increase in mental health issues found within teenagers.

I tried to show emotion and the “trapped feeling� that many teens might have knowing that they were trapped on their phones most of the time.

Kristen Hackos

Age: 18 Eaglecrest High School Sinking

Digital Illustration $100 19 x 13

Water is heavy and suffocating. Its weight masks the voices of those who yell from beneath, and its transparency allows those from above to witness their plight. For the Hear Me Teen Exhibition, I want to portray the difficulty of being heard with a relationship between two characters: one seeking help from above, the other accepting his situation, and both feeling trapped beneath an invisible wall.

Janelle Hailey

dormiveglia: (noun), Italian for half-asleep, semiconscious

Dormiveglia

2020 has been a challenging and unnatural time. This image accurately reflects the dreamlike state not only I, but many others, have felt. The abstract and eerie mood of the picture adds to this concept.

Age: 17 Eaglecrest High School Digital photo $60 8 x 10

Madison Hamm Age: 16 Legend High School Autism and Teens Digital Illustration $60 21.5 x 17.5

The reason that I chose autism in teens is because I think that it is something that doesn’t often get noticed. And I feel that it is something that needs to be heard, or at least acknowledged.

Phoebe Hatch

Age: 16 Boulder High School A Colorado Summer Oil on canvas $200 16 x 20

I painted A Colorado Summer because I wanted to address the issue of climate change and forest fires. There was a day in the late summer of 2020 where a towering plume of smoke emerged from the mountains in the city of Boulder, with visible orange flames at the bottom. It seemed as if all of us impotent people continued on with our lives as we did not know how to process the catastrophe. Climate change is a subject in today’s world that needs to be heard and addressed.

Hanna Holt

Age: 17 Conifer High School I Can’t Breathe Paint and pen $150 30 x 24

The most significant face during this racial movement belonged to George Floyd. Some of his last words were “I can’t breathe,” and those words will be remembered and repeated and emphasize the suffrage of our black community. If you look closely, you will notice that this piece was created using only George Floyd’s words.

Hanna Holt

Age: 17 Conifer High School Sting

Paint, gold marker $80 12 x 12

A new species of “Killer Hornets” were discovered and weren’t the only harming presence in early 2020. They are known to attack honeybees that bring life into nature until the company of death intervenes.

Roshan Klein-Seetharaman Age: 17 Golden High School

Tea for Eight: Climate Change & Environmental Damage Threaten the Intelligent,Complex Creatures that Inhabit Our Oceans Hand-built ceramic $250 8.5 x 5 x 4.25

The design is of an octopus, a complex organism that inhabits our ever warming and increasingly polluted oceans. In fact, each arm of an octopus has its own brain—this represents the way social and environmental challenges must be approached collaboratively. There is no better way to discuss these issues than over a nice cup of tea!

Kevin Matisheck Age: 16 Golden High School Ghost Town

Photograph (film) $40 8.5 x 14

Ghost Town is a piece inspired by the COVID-19 epidemic. In this epidemic, many places of learning such as Colorado School of Mines have become deserted and dull echoes of their previous selves. Ghost Town attempts to invoke feelings of nostalgia and longing at the sight of a deserted road on Mines campus that is normally teeming with life. All that is left in the wake of the pandemic is a sign (in the lower right of the photo) reminding students to stay 6 feet apart.

Drea McCoy

Age: 16 Golden High School Sterilization

Digital photography $100 12 x 17

I chose this photo for the Hear Me teen show because it represents the way that people who have mental illnesses struggle. On the surface a person is seen one way but on the inside that same person could be struggling and feeling like they’re drowning in the chaos around them.

Maryn McNeely

Age: 16 Evergreen High School

Be Bowld Ceramic NFS 7x3

Over the summer pottery called me back to creating and I answered with this bowl. The mix of clays, texture, flow, and the colors of the glaze all told me this was special and meant for my nightly ice cream.

Emma Neimann

Age: 14 Monarch High School

What He Really Wants Acrylic paint on canvas $50 28 x 22

In this painting, you can see a young man bombarded with questions and reprimands. From the job offer to the women making comments on his face and clothing, this man can’t seem to get a break. I chose to create this piece as a way to show how young people are forced into societal norms, especially men who choose not to follow the more “masculine” path, and from the worried expression on the face, you can almost hear the painting screaming, “Hear me.”

Ashley Padgett

Age: 18 Monarch High School Can You Hear Me? Digital painting $25 14 x 11

This piece is about a teenage girl who is trying so hard to get her parents attention. She is screaming and just a bright and vibrant person. While her parents are mute, they aren’t there. Darker colors symbolize her light is dimming from the lack of support.

Gabriella Ragusa Age: 15 Golden High School Matter Over Mind Digital Photograph $10 16.25 x 11.25

Body image is something I have struggled with for as long as I can remember, so much so that I let it control my life. I chose this for the theme because I believe that we as a society need to force a new perception of beauty into our culture in order to make a truly positive change.

Olivia Rourke

Age: 17 Evergreen High School Silver Lining Photograph $75 14 x 11

I wish I could change the mess our world is in, but unfortunately I am in no position to do so. The only thing I can do is learn and grow from the events of this past year so when it is my time to step up I can truly change the world for the better. Knowing that the craziness is only temporary is what has enabled me to look through the haze and find the silver lining. Despite all the bad things that have happened, I have found some clarity and I am proud of myself for that.

Natalie

Age: 15 Denver South High School Lucid Dreams Acrylic $450 14 x 11

My work captures a dream-like world where the problems faced today are thoughts just flowing through the mind.

Hear Me BEST ARTIST STATEMENT

Rachael Sanchez Age: 15 Golden High School Childish Politics Photograph $10 10 x 8

This photo was taken to represent a sense of divide and unity.

As two separate hands tug at the fabric, it strains the woven strings that makeup the fabric. But the hands are so close together, it’s foolish to wonder why they don’t just hold up the flag together. This photo represents the theme of Hear Me, as what is being portrayed not only happens to teens but to others who may not have as strong a voice and cannot be heard over the conflict. Many are victims of political dispute.

Although debate is good, if there is too much force and absolutely no willingness, then adults become children by throwing tantrums. This leaves someone stuck in the middle— whether it is a household or a nation—torn by childish politics.

Jazmin Santos

Age: 16 Golden High School Nunca Olvidado (Never Forgotten) Ceramics $60 6 x 8.5

I chose this piece because this year I lost a family member to COVID-19, and this is a way for me to show that he will not be forgotten and will always be remembered. This art piece is also a way of embracing my culture.

Hear Me BEST IN SHOW

Aspen Shih Age: 16

Rock Canyon High School

When the Birdcage Breaks Graphite $400 31.5 x 25.5

The physical, mental, and emotional battle of COVID-19 has taken a heavy toll on the world. Only through continual change and effort will we recover, and those who fell victim will be remembered, their inner life and spirit continuing on, even if the birdcage can’t. When the Birdcage Breaks stands for the fragility of life, the strength we carry, and the change we must fight for as teens, individuals, and as a society.

Lorena Silva

Age: 16 George Washington High School Rose

Acrylic $200 20 x 16

Everything about a rose is really pretty, be it the shape, color, or anything else. I chose this exhibition as an opportunity for others to recognize and appreciate my work.

Audrey Singer

Age: 17 Golden High School Caught in the Crossfire Acrylic $150 16 x 12

This piece is a political commentary on the toll that war takes on children and their mental wellbeing. Wars leave children in life-threatening situations that hinder emotional development, and with widely available refugee programs, they can have a safer future.

Francesca Slowinski Age: 15 Golden High School The Struggle of 2020 Graphite on paper $80 12 x 9

My piece, The Struggle of 2020, represents how teenagers my age are feeling. Often on the news/media we hear about the elderly and frontline workers and how hard their lives are and everything they are going through. I don’t think there is enough focus on teenagers and the effects of not being able to socialize, act normal, and go to high school. Many adults say that teenagers are resilient. We are because we have to be for our parents, our families, our teachers, and everyone else, but this pandemic will change our lives forever.

Brooklynn Smith

Age: 17 Castle View High School Silenced by Society Photograph $25 4x6

Although society’s acknowledgement of rape and sexual assault cases has improved in the last few decades, there are still thousands and even millions of children, women, and men who are silenced by the stereotypes our society thrusts upon them. We must continue to bring light to the horrific fact that even now, a ‘no’ can be manipulated into a ‘yes’.

Stellan Stewart

Age: 15 Evergreen High School You are Still YOU Underneath Graphite and medical masks $60 10 x 8

Through all of this COVID and online schooling, teens have really been affected; we can’t see our friends, go to school, or play some of the sports how we usually do. Although our masks cover our face and we can’t really express ourselves, we are still OURSELVES underneath. Be true to YOU!

Brandon Stup

Age: 15 Evergreen High School Over Fishing

Colored pencil $50 12 x 9

The issue of overfishing and mistreatment of our oceans has been a growing issue in the past decades. As a species, we are commercially fishing faster than marine populations can naturally replenish themselves, and on top of that, other unintended marine species get captured in nets. By doing so, not only are we lowering the biodiversity of our oceans, but we also harm ourselves. Unless we take worldwide action to tackle this issue, a part of us will be taken from us.

Kristine Urban

Age: 17 Boulder High School A Teen Today (Abashed, Directionless Photograph on canvas $20 12 x 8

This photo is designed to speak to the depths of teen emotion, especially in a time in which facing one’s demons is a necessity in order to grow, when it seems the world has stood still. To be able to love yourself is the ultimate conquest, and the only way to achieve personal enlightenment is through these trials of selfreflection. We all have work to do, so the best thing to do is get on with it!

Hear Me 3RD PLACE

Grace Vega

Age: 16 Boulder High School Your Kid

Mixed-media photograph NFS 24 x 18

This piece notes the idea that young adults tend to obtain titles, both positive and negative, based on actions or things they participate in. These titles tend to be belittling and all-encompassing and harm one’s sense of self. The line of dialogue ends with the statement, “Your Kid,” noting that teens and youth are simply a product of their environment, a product of a world we did not create.

Molly Weber

Age: 17 Golden High School Beauty is Pain

Digital Photograph $25 15 x 10

I chose this piece for the theme, Hear Me, because for as long back as anyone can remember women’s beauty standards have been brutally pushed onto them by society. Young women are told what to look like and what’s considered “beautiful,” and if you don’t meet those expectations you better fix your appearance fast.

Julia Wordley

Age: 17 Evergreen High School Monster of 2020

Ceramic, combination of hand built & wheel thrown $400 6.75 x 15.75 x 9.5

I created this art form to express the inner fears and chaos of the last year. The scared pumpkin I created first to look completely terrified of something and the second pumpkin was a personification of the causation of that fear the first pumpkin shows. I created the “monstrosity� of it with his viney arm stretching to reach the other pumpkin and the scythe was meant to be a symbol of the mortality rate of COVID. I tried to have the expression and emotion of these two figures come to life and bleed from the art as a way to explain and present the fear that we all feel as a society while facing current events. I hope you enjoy.

Piper Zoller

Age: 17 Boulder High School Torn

Prismacolor colored pencils, collage of photos and handwritten notes $180 12 x 9

I chose to enter this piece into the Hear Me show because it’s about pain, loss, and bad experiences.

This past year has been full of all kinds of badness, and while this piece represents a breakup for me, I wanted anyone who looked at it to be able to feel the pain it’s conveying and connect it back to something that happened to them.

Thank you to our EXHIBITION sponsors

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