The Laura Thorne Sculpture Program is a free mentorship initiative made possible by our generous sponsors. Designed for young, aspiring artists, this program offers hands-on experience, expert guidance, and the chance to create their own sculptures, while honoring the legacy of celebrated sculptor and local arts advocate, Laura Thorne.
The program culminates in an exhibition, where participants will showcase their sculptures in a professional gallery setting, sharing their artistic journeys with family, friends, and the public.
Laura Thorne was a transformative figure in the Roaring Fork Valley arts community. As a renowned sculptor and co-founder of the Aspen Art Museum, Thorne dedicated her life to advancing the arts and mentoring emerging artists. Known for her monumental steel sculptures and innovative print media, her work explored the complex interplay between nature, industry, and form.
We would like to thank our generous sponsors, Loren Jenkins, Wink Thorne, Melanie Thorne, and an anonymous donor for their incredible support in making this program come to life.
Research shows that mentorship has a profound impact on young people, fostering growth in social, academic, and professional spheres. Mentorship provides invaluable opportunities for personal, emotional, and creative development.
2026 Mentees
Carina Creyts
Basalt High School
My name is Carina Creyts, and I’m a sophomore at Basalt High School. I’ve been making art ever since I can remember: doodling in the margins of my papers, making comics and songs with my friends, and collecting every scrap of cardboard or milk carton in my house for future projects. Nowadays, I make a lot of digital art, use acrylic markers, paint, and sketch. I’m grateful for an opportunity to give sculpture a try and expand my skillset to 3D. A goal of mine is to create more artwork in the upcoming year and work on expressing more complex, stylized, and personal themes.
Reese Ferguson
Basalt High School
I am a junior at Basalt High School and passionate about art. I use various materials and mediums to express my messages, often conveying themes in nature. Utilizing floral elements in my artwork addresses problems affecting the environment while also highlighting the beauty in the world.
Zariah Green
Aspen High School
I am a Senior at Aspen High School. I made a MILLIPEDE for this project. I like to draw and paint and do many types of 2-dimensional art at school and outside of school as well. 3-dimensional art is new for me.
Cristina Solis
Basalt High School
I am a Sophomore at Basalt High School. I like making art, listening to music and doing sports. I mainly do 2D artwork like drawings and paintings. I took this class because I wanted to have a new experience. This class has been really fun. This class also showed me to do 3D work. I learned how to make a big beetle out of cardboard. I chose a beetle because it is one of my favorite bugs. A beetle looks interesting because of its horn, shape and color. I made a RHINOCEROS BEETLE.
Brynn Stringham
Roaring Fork High School
Brynn is a junior at Roaring Fork High School and is currently involved in the art program there. For them, art has been a way to express themself and give life to the creatures and worlds inside their head. They wanted to join this sculpture mentorship because they enjoy learning about and exploring different art styles. They are excited to see how this experience will affect their art and allow for new creations.
Tamar Marks
Basalt High School
I am a Junior at Basalt High School. I like to read, draw, and horseback ride. I took this class because I love to do art. I learned problem solving and structuring with cardboard in the course while I was working on my bug project. I made an ORCHID PRAYING MANTIS because I liked how pretty it looks and I love how cool praying mantises are. While my bug does look like an average mantis, I was inspired by the orchid mantis’s beauty which made me choose a mantis in the first place.
2025 Mentees
Duke Kottyan +
Basalt High School
My name is Duke Kottyan, and I have been creating art since preschool, where I drew silly monsters and superheroes. However, my real journey in art began in elementary school. I often felt frustrated when my art teacher assigned specific prompts for projects and would get upset when I tried to express my own ideas. During this time, I started making art that showed who I was. I would go home and paint, draw, and sculpt things that I loved at the time. I continue to do this today, but I try to add more meaning to my work. But, I still have not determined my favorite medium—I will leave that discovery for my future self!
James Opp +
Basalt High School Sophomore
James is a 16-year-old sophomore from Basalt High School. James strives to become a skilled musician in his career as a drummer. He is a talented artist, particularly in mediums of drawing, though he is a good artist he has yet to build the contemporary aspect of his art and his skills in new mediums. This opportunity has allowed James to work out of his comfort zone and develop new artistic horizons. His goal is to create art that has variety and deeper abstract meanings that help bring certain emotions and feelings from the viewers.
Alma Leder +
Basalt High School Junior
Alma Leder is a current junior exchange student from Germany at Basalt High School who has loved art since she was little. She specializes in realistic pencil drawings that bring life and detail to, especially human drawings. Recently, Alma has begun exploring pottery and sculpture, discovering new ways to shape and express creativity. She loves bright colors and music, which often inspires her art. She is excited to keep learning and trying new things in her art journey.
Xavier Plowman +
Basalt High School
Xavier is an artist attending Basalt High School. He works mainly with 2D mediums, a favorite is realism with graphite, but thought that working with a 3D artist; Andrea Wendel; would be a fun opportunity to expand his horizons. He is thoroughly enjoying this opportunity and is excited to continue working with more 3D mediums.
Micah Moreny +
Basalt High School
Micah is a sophomore at Roaring Fork High School and is currently involved in the art program there. He has always been super interested in expressionism and the freedom art brings for him. He has a very deep connection with music and street art. These influence his art heavily as he explores as many different mediums as possible. Micah is excited to see how this experience influences his art and the styles that he likes to work with.
Reese Ferguson +
Basalt High School
Reese Ferguson is a sophomore at Basalt High School who is passionate about art. She uses various materials and mediums to express her messages, often conveying themes in nature. Utilizing floral elements in her artwork, Reese addresses problems affecting the environment while also highlighting the beauty in the world.