Drawn Out

After the Caldor Fire of 2021, I made charcoal drawings for an exhibition named, ‘Call and Response’ at Lake Tahoe Community College. It was a cathartic process for me and our community, and a firm reminder of the power of art to help process a traumatic event.
Recently, I visited the South Tahoe Middle and High School Art Classes, and posed the question, “What do you care about?”

Initial silence, and many blank faces left me wondering if collective screen hypnosis had robbed them of their capacity to see the larger world. However, the artwork they created in response to my call told the heartfelt, blunt, emotional, angry, desolate, compassionate, and above all, honest story of their hearts. In stark contrast to the artful rhetoric of adults in power, these images tell the story of how young people haven’t yet lost the confidence to use their creativity to express how they feel. We all make art as children, until some of us get a message that we’re no good at art, and it’s not a worthwhile use of our time on this earth.
Against the backdrop of genocide in Gaza, and students worldwide making a stand against it, we can see that young people’s voices are important and absolutely do count. This is their world after all, and they are the generation who will suffer the consequences of this trauma.

My work is currently occupying the walls of Untethered and CoWork Tahoe, spaces created to encourage collaboration and the sharing of ideas. Owners Jamie and David Orr have been incredibly supportive over the years, beginning with an exhibition, “We the People” in 2017. As founding member of Tahoe Activist Artists, and art teacher for 15 years at LTCC, I’ve worked with many locals to encourage a creative response to difficult issues.
Many of us moved to Tahoe to escape another life, but we can hardly be characterized as a city of refugees. We live in one of the most beautiful and expensive places in America. It’s strange to see images of a barbaric war being fought with bombs provided by our government, then look out of the window and see beautiful trees swaying in the breeze. We can skip our remote work because the mountains are calling, and we must go. Perhaps we’re all a little selfish in our desire for happiness in this broken world.

What I see in Tahoe parents and teachers though, is a genuine mission to teach their kids respect, land stewardship, tolerance and kindness. Maybe it’s because many of us came here as travelers, and that mindset has remained. Perhaps the altitude can bring us above the noise and chaos of the lives we escaped, so the quieter voices can have an opportunity to be heard. We can draw them out by listening and encouraging them to work with their hands. One of those small, persistent voices could be the next Greta Thunberg or Malala Yousafzai. Wouldn’t that be amazing?
“Drawn Out” Art Exhibition and Fundraising Event and will be held at Untethered Tahoe, Roundhill on May 31st 2024, from 5 – 7pm. Proceeds from sales will be donated to a cause of the student’s choice, and the art departments of each school. Art teachers Brian Principato and Matt Kauffman will join Shelley Zentner to exhibit their work alongside the children’s. Food and beverages will be provided. Event organized by Peace Love Tahoe, Florals provided by Petal Kindness Lake Tahoe, Plants and Art Supplies by the Botanical Arts Company.
Contact Shelley Zentner at shelley.zentner@gmail.com / 530.318.7824 for more information.