INTERNATIONALLY CELEBRATED PUERTO RICAN ART COLLECTIVE PONCILI CREACIÓN AND MAPS (MUSIC ART PUPPET SOUND) TO MENTOR ASPEN ART MUSEUM’S
2023 YOUTH ART EXPO: PUPPETS, MASKS, AND STORYTELLING OPENING IN APRIL

MORE THAN 1,000 YOUTH ART SUBMISSIONS WILL BE DISPLAYED IN AN AMBITIOUS EXHIBITION SPANNING 2/3 OF THE MUSEUM 

ASPEN, COLORADO (February 7, 2023) – The Aspen Art Museum is pleased to announce the 2023 Youth Art Expo: Puppets, Masks, and Storytelling. This puppetry-focused exhibition offers unprecedented mentorship opportunities by the Puerto Rican art collective Poncili Creación, as well as the non-profit MAPS (Music Art Puppet Sound). The Museum’s annual Youth Art Expo opens avenues for community engagement with K–12 students through performance and extends the reach of its exhibition program outside of the Museum’s walls, transforming the visitor experience and developing artistic interconnectivity throughout the Roaring Fork Valley, Colorado. With the participation of Poncili Creación and MAPS, emerging and established international artists bring a global conversation to the meaning of art and challenge the ideas of who gets to make art—profound themes that have the potential to change communities and culture in Western Colorado and give students a greater sense of agency.

Taking place every other year, the goal of the Youth Art Expo is to showcase the intersection of youth education and art in a bright and inclusive space and celebrate the unique voices of young artists in the community. More than 1,000 artworks made by youth in the valley will be displayed in an ambitious exhibition that will span over two-thirds of the museum and be on public display for the month of May, giving each student the professional experience of being an exhibiting artist in a contemporary art museum. The Youth Art Expo is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for young people—seeing their works up on the walls of the Museum has the potential to create a sense of confidence that is unique and, at times, life-changing. With mentorship, direction, and inspiration from visiting artists, each iteration focuses on a creative theme to provide a focus for outreach and programming. As a result, the museum itself becomes a classroom where experimentation and growth are encouraged. 

Taking place every other year, the goal of the Youth Art Expo is to showcase the intersection of youth education and art in a bright and inclusive space and celebrate the unique voices of young artists in the community. More than 1,000 artworks made by youth in the valley will be displayed in an ambitious exhibition that will span over two-thirds of the museum and be on public display for the month of May, giving each student the professional experience of being an exhibiting artist in a contemporary art museum. The Youth Art Expo is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for young people—seeing their works up on the walls of the Museum has the potential to create a sense of confidence that is unique and, at times, life-changing. With mentorship, direction, and inspiration from visiting artists, each iteration focuses on a creative theme to provide a focus for outreach and programming. As a result, the museum itself becomes a classroom where experimentation and growth are encouraged.

The Youth Art Expo is organized by the Aspen Art Museum Education team, which aims to foster creativity, conversation, connection, and community through the experience of art and artists, and to contribute to the cultural vibrancy of the region by highlighting diverse voices. The program reinforces the Museum’s commitment to the health and vitality of local and global communities by looking to artists and thinkers to lead the way, reimagining the possibilities of a shared future.

Nicola Lees, Nancy, and Bob Magoon Director, said, “Puppetry continues to act as a source of inspiration for many contemporary artists. Working with Poncili Creación, an art collective known for their fantastical and improvisational approach to puppetry and performance, in tandem with Rachel Sherk and Aaron Rourk of MAPS, is a thrilling opportunity to bring the best of contemporary art practice into the lives of students across the Roaring Fork Valley. Windows into the art historical contexts of puppets and performance will be opened, initiating an insightful and practical workshop for students to challenge their creativity while allowing space for play and exploration in our everyday social dynamics.”

Puppeteer mentoring is led by Poncili Creación, the Puerto Rican art collective made up of twin brothers Pablo and Efrain Del Hierro, and by MAPS, an artist duo made up of visual artist and puppet-maker Rachel Sherk and composer-performer Aaron Rourk. Poncili Creación is known worldwide for their creative street performances featuring awe-inspiring puppets ranging in scales and materials, with an emphasis on storytelling, puppet-making, and mask-making. Since 2012, they have worked with large-scale objects, installations, and video, although they are most known for their performances that involve live music, dance, and experimental storytelling. MAPS (Music Art Puppet Sound) was founded in 2018 as a nonprofit arts organization by artists Rachel Sherk and Aaron Rourk. MAPS focuses on bringing experimental visual art, theater, horticulture, and music practices to underserved and marginalized communities. MAPS will be in Aspen for a two-week residency in February to facilitate workshops in tandem with the museum. Poncili Creación and MAPS will design this year’s Expo exhibition.

For the past several months, the Aspen Art Museum Education team has been reaching out to schools from Aspen to Parachute, Colorado, to encourage participation in the Youth Art Expo and to expand access to youth arts education. Teachers were given a choice of projects created by Poncili Creación and MAPS, along with lesson plans, instructional videos, and all of the necessary supplies to inspire students in the creation of original artwork for the exhibition.

Teresa Booth Brown, Director of Education and Community Programs, said, “It has been my pleasure to oversee this year’s Youth Art Expo. The program's ambition is only possible through the dedicated work of those at the museum, participating students, teachers, and schools, and from a community that values and supports the arts. We look forward to welcoming visitors to the Youth Art Expo and presenting 1,000 unique narratives on the storytelling theme.”

The biennial Youth Art Expo exercises the mission of the Aspen Art Museum as an artist-founded institution dedicated to supporting artists in developing bold ideas to shape the museum and the field of art today. As part of broader educational outreach efforts, the Youth Art Expo brings arts education and support to many underserved areas of rural Colorado that are unable to keep arts programming in their curricula.

The culmination of the museum’s outreach and programming will feature collaborative themes and opportunities to participate in live celebration at the opening event. The Aspen Art Museum hopes to encourage more museums to undertake such an ambitious project.

Learn more about the museum’s educational programming at aspenartmuseum.org/learning.