SAMMY’S STORY
My inspiration for supporting the Art Students League of Denver comes from my experiences as a student here, the community I found through those classes, and what I believe ASLD provides for our community—namely, opportunities to awaken and foster creativity no matter what your artistic goals may be. To me, this is what makes ASLD special, and is why I’m enthusiastically supporting our spring campaign!
I didn’t expect the classes I began taking at ASLD fifteen years ago to lead to the artistic career I have today. When we moved to Denver, I didn’t know anyone outside of family, and being welcomed into the ASLD studios opened the door to a lot of creative growth, a supportive network of artists, and boundless inspiration. Since those first classes, I’ve found great success at ASLD and in Colorado: I’ve taught book arts classes since 2019 and am getting ready to host a workshop with ASLD this summer in France. My practice has evolved toward installation as I’ve received opportunities to show my work in Colorado and beyond.
ASLD’s influence on my career is priceless. I am fortunate to have been supported by many Denver arts organizations throughout my career, and ASLD nurtured my progress from total beginner to working professional. In my first classes, I was eager to bring my creative impulses to life, and I found encouragement from my classmates and instructors. ASLD is an integral part of my artistic identity; the support I received here allowed me to flourish through self-exploration. I know these are the opportunities artists need to feel inspired, to be brave in making new things (and sharing them with the world if they choose), and to give the creative parts of ourselves everything we need to succeed.
While my creative journey with ASLD is unique, it encompasses what anyone can expect when they walk through the doors of the building at 200 Grant Street. There are so many emerging creatives in Denver searching for inspiration and people looking for their next artistic encounter. ASLD empowers them to experience the joy of art in their own way. This resource for Denver’s creative scene needs our collective community’s investment to continue and grow.
If you haven’t had the opportunity to give to ASLD so far during our spring campaign, Inspired for ASLD, I invite you to join me in contributing to a cause that has already impacted many and has the potential to inspire far beyond its current reach.
Sammy Lee
ASLD artist, faculty member, and student
On behalf of the Art Students League of Denver, I wish you well this spring. We are gearing up for all that warmer weather brings here: exhibits that inspire, Summer Camps, Sunday Sundae, Summer Art Market, and more! We look forward to seeing you in the coming weeks and months at our beloved Sherman School building in West Wash Park.
As an artist in the ASLD community for more than twenty years, I know firsthand the incredible opportunities this organization provides to artists and art lovers, and the value ASLD brings to Denver. ASLD has served my creative journey throughout many changes in my goals and life—from an aspiring artist new to Colorado looking for community and mentorship, to a professional with sculptures installed throughout our city—I have always found inspiration at ASLD. I am delighted to support our mission each year and I invite you to join me in giving to our spring campaign, Inspired for ASLD.
ASLD stands out in the Denver creative scene and is worth our support for so many reasons. Our history in Denver runs deep, and we continue to inspire countless artists, connections, and creative ventures. The breadth of our offerings both in and outside the studio invites everyone to our community. Whether you are looking to explore new artwork in our gallery; expand your skills in any media; experiment alongside other emerging artists; or drop in for a weekend event, ASLD is your third place, your destination, your community, and your inspiration.
When you give to ASLD, you invest in many people, programs, and possibilities. Donations support the maintenance of our historic building, equitable wages for our instructors and staff, and high-quality equipment and supplies in our studios; our reach and expanding partnerships in Denver’s greater metro area and surrounding communities; our scholarships for children and adults; and perhaps most importantly, the belief that people of all ages, abilities, economic backgrounds, and identities belong at ASLD. Your contribution fosters inspiration and joy across Denver’s ever-changing creative landscape.
No matter where you are on your creative journey, whether you are an artist or art lover, your personal gift is significant to our stability and growth each year. When considering your donation this spring, please think of how ASLD has inspired you or someone you know and give generously. Just as artists are inspired by those around them when creating new works, every gift inspires another in our community. I hope we can count on you (and inspire you!) this spring to collectively support ASLD.
With much gratitude,
Kate Davis
ASLD Board Member, student, and artist
I’m inspired to support the Art Students League of Denver because this organization has sincerely impacted my life and creative journey as an artist and instructor. It is important that ASLD continually creates space for people to experience art in new ways, form valuable connections, and get inspired in and outside our studios.
I was excited to join the ASLD community when I returned home to Denver a few years ago. ASLD offered an opportunity to continue my creative career after a three year apprenticeship in Sweden and thirty-five years in New York City. I knew ASLD was respected in Denver for quality instruction, exhibits, and more—and that I would be proud to take classes and teach here. I’ve been teaching fiber arts classes and workshops at ASLD since 2020 and have shown my work in several exhibits as well, most recently delecTABLE: The Fine Art of Dining, which is on view through May 21!
My experiences at ASLD have inspired my teaching methods, new artistic opportunities, and have expanded my creative network. As a student, I received feedback tailored to my growth. I learned foundational skills in the studio, was encouraged to seek freedom in my artmaking, and was given meaningful critique. I bring all of these tenets into my teaching now. I know that the simultaneous emphasis on fundamental artistic techniques and self-exploration is what makes ASLD classes invaluable to artists of all skill levels.
Quality classroom instruction is just one part of how ASLD supports our creative scene—and only one way that your gift serves the mission of this organization and the people it impacts. I’m also inspired to give to ASLD because the organization is growing, offering a wider variety of media and expanding to neighborhoods throughout the Denver metro area. ASLD brings artistic experiences to as many people as possible. I know firsthand how significant your donation is to the success of ASLD’s work in Denver—and how your gift demonstrates our community’s commitment to this future.
Denver’s creative scene needs the variety of artistic opportunities that ASLD provides, and I hope you feel inspired to join me in supporting ASLD’s spring 2023 campaign!
David van Buskirk
ASLD artist, faculty member, and student
