This past fall 2013 marked the kick-off of the second year of the You[th]Pace Teen Art Council at Artpace. Fifteen students age 15-18 were selected through a competitive application process to participate in the program, which lasts an entire school year. Under the guidance of Assistant Curator of Education for Teen and University Programs, Taylor Browning, You[th]Pace Teen Art Council members are trained to become contemporary art-savvy ambassadors of Artpace, tasked with creating engaging content and programs for their peers in the San Antonio community. They explore Artpace exhibitions, get to know our artists-in-residence, see behind the scenes of exhibition installation, and create their own work using contemporary methods and materials.
Interacting with Artpace artists most definitely has had an impact on me. Being able to see the empty gallery, messy studios, the artists at work, and the final outcome. Seeing the behind the scenes gives me the feel of what is possible for an artist like to me to experience. -Lenzy Mora, 2013-2014 You[th]Pace member, Brackenridge High School, grade 12
You[th]Pace members meet once a week for two hours after school at Artpace and receive a monthly stipend. In the fall they went through Artpace 101—learning about the founding and function of the organization, going behind the scenes of exhibitions, and meeting Artpace staff.
This spring You[th]Pace will resume weekly meetings to begin working on their capstone project, which will be unveiled in May. Additionally, Council members will meet with Spring 2014 Hudson (Show)Room/Window Works artist, Mungo Thomson as well as six new International Artists-In-Residence who will move in to Artpace for our Spring 2014 and Summer 2014 residency cycles. You[th]Pace members are also looking forward to a special collaboration with the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston Teen Council—they will do a mail art exchange and the results will be exhibited at the CAMH this summer. Other tasks on the You[th]Pace agenda include helping to promote Artpace’s upcoming Teen Artist Workshop on Sunday, February 9 as well as plan a “Teens Only” area for Artpace’s annual Family Day coming up on Saturday, March 22. Stay tuned for more to come from the You[th]Pace Teen Art Council.
