Gabe Clark, of Charlotte, Michigan, was chosen for the Isle Royale Teen Artist Exploration program because of his ceramics skills/Gabe Clark

Two teen artists, along with an artistic mentor, will be traveling to Isle Royale National Park this summer to explore their art together through wilderness.

Kellan Heikkila (Drawing) of Chassell, Michigan, and Gabe Clark (Ceramics) of Charlotte, Michigan, were selected for the 2018 Teen Artist Exploration. One alternate, Colleen Miller (Drawing) of Saginaw, Michigan, was also chosen.

The Teen Artist Exploration, in its third year, received 32 applications from across Michigan and the United States. The high quality of applications made for a rewarding, but difficult jury selection process. The Teen Artist Exploration Jury included the teen artists from 2016 and 2017, the teen artist mentor, and an Isle Royale National Park representative. The jury examined four application elements: 1) Artistic skill, 2) Creativity, 3) Letter of Recommendation, and 4) The answer to Why Do You Want to Be an Isle Royale Teen Artist.

The Isle Royale Teen Artist Exploration provide teens the opportunity to develop their art through experiencing wilderness, and is open to all visual and performing artists, writers, and composers ages 13 to 18 at time of participation. The program is co-sponsored by Isle Royale National Park, Isle Royale and Keweenaw Parks Association, and the Copper Country Community Arts Council.