Eight Wrangell High School students will attend Southeast Art Fest in Haines April 24-27, getting an opportunity to not only display artwork they have already created but also to experience immersive learning in workshops led by instructors and artists from across Southeast Alaska.

The annual festival started in 1998 — the first one was in Wrangell — with help from Kake art instructor and carver Rick Mills and coordinated by Wrangell teacher Kirk Garbisch.

The purpose for the past almost 30 years has been to encourage the exchange of artistic expression and instruction for high school students. The festival rotates among Southeast communities. It was in Wrangell last year, where art instructor Tawney Crowley won the Rick Mills Spirit of Arts award.

The award honors Mills, who died in a boating accident in 2003.

“This is less about competition and more about being in a place with other people who enjoy making art and are interested in learning more,” said Crowley.

The Wrangell students going to Haines range from freshmen to seniors, some first-timers and some who have been to previous festivals. “They are never quite sure what to expect, but they are excited to see what people are making,” she said.

The festival offers a wide range of workshops, including glassblowing, creating formline longboards, beading, upscaling photography, halibut-hook carving and acrylic still-life painting. Each student chooses two options and spends an average of 15 hours in each workshop over the four days.

“It is a very rigorous experience,” said Crowley. “While they are there, they are doing art.”

While she is offering a workshop on gelli printing (a reusable gel plate to create textured prints), she is encouraging her students to take workshops from other artists. “It’s an opportunity to be around people who want to learn from each other, to have a wider exposure to new ideas.”

Students are encouraged to bring artwork they have already created, and there is an award for the best work brought to the festival.

Although her students have worked with a variety of media including drawing, painting, ceramics and mosaics, Crowley said they are more interested in creating something different.

“Sometimes they are concerned that the other students are already better artists than they are and hold back. Once they are there, they see that everyone is still learning, even me.”

Students are expected to have a completed piece at the end of the workshops. All their artwork will be displayed on the final day at an art show, where the award for the best work created at the festival will be awarded.

Each instructor and artist is asked to contribute work for an auction, to raise funds to support the next year’s festival. Crowley has created a set of stained-glass ornaments featuring dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals.

“The festival is really a way of celebrating and recognizing all aspects of student life. There are artists in my classes who are also musicians and athletes. It’s nice to have particular time to focus on art and the ways they can be creative.”