Art Students Hit the Trail

by Johanna Ziegler

The art program, one of the many crown jewels of Minarets, has wrapped up another successful year at the annual Sierra Art Trails, a multi-location art show that showcases local artists.

This year, art students took part in the SAT’s 17th annual Yosemite Foothills Open Studio tour, showing off their art to the public in locations like the Yosemite Lakes Park clubhouse. Minarets art teacher, Jill Gamble, likes to get her students involved in the showcase, saying, “They get actual real life exposure of [being] in an art show. We’re always trying to do real life applications at Minarets so this would be one, if you were an artist.”

Minarets display at the YLP Clubhouse

For junior Tessa Cohlan, a three-time Sierra Art Trails participant, exposure means a lot to the young artist, encouraging them to continue in their art even when they might feel

discouraged. Cohlan describes it, saying, “...you actually get to show your work one on one with the people who are interested, which is a very validating experience...that makes it seem worth it when a lot of times it doesn’t feel like it’s worth it.”

Highlights from Cohlan's portfolio

Students like Cohlan are given a platform to express themselves through the Sierra Art Trails. They can experiment with different styles of art and different mediums, whether it be watercolors or pencil art. At the event, they can discuss their creative processes with visitors and can even sell their work. Gamble says students are “always excited when they get a few dollars off of what they make.”

In addition to submitting work to the show, Minarets students who are apart of the Art Club are also involved. Art Club president and sophomore Kayla Velazquez says that Art Club has been fundraising for both students participating in the showcase this year and the years to come. “We try to do a fundraiser...so we can get more supplies for our class so we have more options for next year...people can get more complex with their art.”

Though the art program is closing the books on another year at the Sierra Art Trails, it still has many plans for more field trips, fundraisers, and art shows. Be sure to also check out the Art program at the Minarets Fall Showcase on October 17!

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