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CMC students present diversity in art showing in Steamboat

Colorado Mountain College fall art show sales to benefit rescue center in Kenya

Nicole Inglis
The Colorado Mountain College digital photographer class is showing it’s work at Azteca Taqueria in Steamboat Springs. The class includes, back row from left, Meghan Moran, Nick Glimenakis, Ryan Schuck, Shane Lee, Sierra Bosick, Alisha Repollo, Quentin Franke, Martin Smith. Pictured in the front row, from left, is Brianna Wilhelm, Cody Clark (kneeling) and Jake Colenda.
John F. Russell





The Colorado Mountain College digital photographer class is showing it’s work at Azteca Taqueria in Steamboat Springs. The class includes, back row from left, Meghan Moran, Nick Glimenakis, Ryan Schuck, Shane Lee, Sierra Bosick, Alisha Repollo, Quentin Franke, Martin Smith. Pictured in the front row, from left, is Brianna Wilhelm, Cody Clark (kneeling) and Jake Colenda.
John F. Russell

In one semester at Colorado Mountain College, Brianna Wil­helm went from a camera novice to a member of a group art show in downtown Steamboat Springs.

Her chosen photograph for the CMC fall art show at Azteca Taqueria is a large still life of several Venetian masks and foreign coins, veiled with shadows and golden light.

“I liked how the light turned out and how I used the light of the room,” she said. “It’s neat to be able to share this stuff with other people. It’s cool to be able to say, ‘Look what I did.’”



Photos from the 15-person class, as well as paintings from a CMC art class, will remain on display all month, offering exposure for the young artists.

At Azteca on Wednesday, the photo class members admired their art and reminisced about the semester that led to their show.



“It’s diverse,” student Meghan Moran said about the show.

Her piece is a contemporary work using slow shutter speed and flash depicting hooded figures with several sets of arms.

“I got to be creative, and I had a lot of support from my classmates,” Moran said about her photograph.

The diversity of the students’ work could stem from the relaxed and creative atmosphere provided by teacher MB Warner.

Warner said she doesn’t like traditional rules and parameters for her photo students: They can shoot with a digital SLR or a camera phone, whatever they prefer. Warner said Wilhelm’s shot was taken with a point-and-shoot digital camera, which reminds students that art can be created without expensive resources.

During semester, the group made field trips across Routt County to places such as Stanko Ranch, where CMC film student Jake Colenda took his chosen photograph with a fish-eye lens in a dusty old barn.

“I learned about light and how important it is,” Colenda said. “And how the light can change the colors … you can take a second look at things, and they can look better than the first time.”

Although he wants to go into film, he said he plans to carry his digital still camera with him from now on.

In addition to the exposure for budding artists, the show hits a charitable chord, as well. In the fall show’s second year, Warner is continuing the tradition of donating a portion of the sales proceeds to a charity. This year, it’s the Tasaru Girls Rescue Centre in Kenya, where Clark resident Mary Walker spends time with young Maasai women saved from child marriage and genital mutilation.

“Most students want to give globally today,” Warner said. “I guess I’m just trying to help instill some ideas and values.”

But the students weren’t the only ones learning new concepts this semester. Warner said several of her students led lessons about skills she wasn’t yet familiar with and showed her a passion and zeal for art of all forms.

“They’re inspiring,” she said.


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