PEAK PROFILES
By Valerie Hanna ’18 Over the past year, we have seen the arts take on new meaning as creators explore new mediums for teaching, learning, and self-expression during a global pandemic. The arts have long been an arena for innovation, community engagement, and experimentation, and young alumni artists are blazing their own paths as they respond to the changing world around them. From music to textiles, film to painting and design, these graduates have taken the lessons they developed as dedicated Colorado College students on the Block Plan into their lives and professional work post-graduation.*
MICHAELA KAHN ’20 graduated with a major in art studio and minor
in performance design, and is embracing her myriad passions as she pursues a career in fashion design. “I feel immensely grateful for my time at CC and for the opportunities I had to work with talented faculty members who supported and nurtured me in ways I could never have imagined,” Kahn says. “It is truly a gift to say that I was able to simultaneously grow, learn, and gain confidence in myself as a woman, designer, and artist all while doing what I loved. In addition, my strong interest in feminist and gender studies, fueled by impactful classes with Professor Heidi R. Lewis, influenced the way I think about my work.” Kahn fell in love with oil painting while at CC, ultimately creating three large abstract oil paintings for her senior thesis. “Painting on the Block Plan provided me with space to sink into my work and call the
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studio my home,” Kahn says. “I practically lived there for weeks at a time, only leaving for meals. I wouldn’t trade that experience for the world.” Kahn’s love for fashion flourished her sophomore year at CC during her costume design class with Adjunct Associate Professor and Costume Designer Gypsy Ames. She went on to take an independent study course with Ames her junior year, designing and creating her own line of clothing. Kahn planned to move to New York City after graduation, but her plans have been delayed due to the ongoing pandemic. She worked for fashion designer and philanthropist Tory Burch for six months and continues to volunteer as an assistant at a local art gallery. Kahn
