Faces of YAC
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Alumni Profile: Natalie Friedrich
We're so happy to introduce Natalie Akane Friedrich in our newest installment of Alumni Profiles! Natalie is a multi-talented artist, herbalist, and homesteader who lives in Ohio and runs her own small business, Gnat and ›››
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Meet Vanessa
Vanessa is a 17-year-old junior at Seaside High who has been a YACster for just over a year. Friendly and hilarious, Vanessa is a prolific and daring artist who sees YAC as a place full ›››
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Alumni Profile: Ryan Olea
Huge thanks to YACalumni Ryan Olea for her great interview! Ryan is a super talented artist who recently converted a Red Cross van into a home and studio in order to experience an off the ›››
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Meet Samantha
Samantha, who just went off to start college at Laguna College of Art and Design (LCAD), has been a YACster since her freshman year at Monterey High. A fearless and multitalented artist, Samantha labels herself ›››
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Alumni Profile: Bryce Elischer
Congratulations to YACalum Bryce Elischer, who was just recently accepted to the Carmel Art Association! Don't miss seeing his gorgeous oil paintings at the New Member Show, up now through the end of June, on ›››
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Meet Barbara
Barbara is a sixteen-year-old homeschooled sophomore who’s been a YACster for the past two years. She compares herself to the sea – “calm at times, but also angry at other times.” Friendly and funny, Barbara ›››
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Alumni Profile: Nayeong (Chloe) Oh
We're so happy to have Nayeong (Chloe) Oh for our newest Alumni Profile! Huge thanks to her for such a thoughtful interview! Check out more of her work at chloeoh.com Year/years at YAC? I was ›››
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Meet Lorena
Lorena, an eighteen-year-old senior at Monterey High, has been a YACster for the past four years. She describes herself as “positive, kind, and hard-working,” although anyone who knows her would agree that’s an understatement. Engaged ›››
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Alumni Profile: Ang Vondra
Huge thanks to Ang for the wonderful interview! Ang is a YACalum who now works at Cartoon Network! Check out more of her fabulous work on her blog here! Year/years at yac My memory is ›››
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Alumni Profile: Keith Damron
We're so happy to introduce our next interview with YACalum Keith Damron! Keith is not only a super talented artist but also a fantastic musician - he sings and plays guitar in the rock band ›››
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Meet Stephen
Stephen, an 18-year-old recent graduate of Seaside High, has been a YACster for four years, since he started high school. He feels that words cannot quite express how “respectable and helpful” YAC is. Stephen’s first ›››
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Alumni Profile: Meheen Ruby
Huge thanks to Meheen Ruby for her fabulous interview! We are beyond thrilled to welcome Meheen as our newest member of the YAC staff! YACalum, former YAC intern, and now YAC studio assistant - Meheen ›››
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Meet Raven
Raven, a 15-year-old homeschooled through Compass Charter School, has been a member of YAC for two years, since she started high school. Raven is the first ever TAGster (Teaching Across Generations – YAC’s Saturday program ›››
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Meet Taylor
Taylor, an 18-year-old Senior at York, has been a member of YAC for three years and loves being part of such a “cozy, tranquil and rewarding” community. Self-described as “amiable, quirky and caring,” she first ›››
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Meet Emilio
Emilio, a 19-year-old student at Monterey Peninsula College, has been a member of YAC for close to two years and loves being part of the “fulfilling, welcoming and cozy” atmosphere. In fact Emilio very much ›››
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Alumni Profile: Devin Mireles
Huge thanks to YACAlum Devin Mireles for this newest interview! Devin is an amazingly talented illustrator, sculptor, and puppet-builder with a brilliant sense of humor and a and totally original voice! Find more of Devin's ›››
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Meet Tennyson
Tennyson, a 17-year-old Junior at Monterey High School, has been a member of YAC for three years, since she first started her freshman year. She finds YAC to be “eye-opening, opportunity-giving, amazing, teaching, and totally ›››
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Alumni Profiles: Lauren Shera
Thank you to YACalum and singer-songwriter Lauren Shera for her lovely interview! If you happen to be in Louisville, Nashville, or Atlanta this December don't miss the end of her tour with Shawn Colvin! Lauren's ›››
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YAC Attack at Revival Ice Cream!
Twenty or so YACsters marched over to Ron Mendoza’s new Revival Ice+Cream in true YAC attack fashion to help welcome him to the neighborhood, present him with small ice cream paintings, and to try his fabulous ›››
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Alumni Profiles: Khalid Hussein
We're kicking off our new Alumni Interview series with the incredibly talented Los Angeles based artist Khalid Hussein! Be sure to check out more of his gorgeous paintings at Khalidhusseinart.com What years were you at YAC? ›››
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Meet Kelsoe
Kelsoe - a 15-year-old independent study sophomore who also takes classes at MPC - has been a YACster for just over a year since he started high school. He finds YAC to be “accepting, lively ›››
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Meet Vanya
Vanya, a 17-year-old (summer of) Senior at Pacific Grove High School, has been a member of YAC for two and a half years and loves being part of such a “candid, steady haven.” In fact ›››
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Meet Sophia
Sophia, a 16-year-old sophomore at Carmel High School, has been a member of YAC for over a year and finds it to be a “welcoming, empowering and magical” place for her to pursue her artistic ›››
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Meet Lorenzo
Lorenzo, a 17-year-old who describes himself as “comedic, meticulous, and stubborn,” is a Pacific Grove High School Senior. He has been a member of YAC for just over a year and half, when he joined ›››
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Meet DeShaun
DeShaun, an 18 year old self-described as “friendly, outgoing and imaginative” is a Seaside High School Senior. She has been a member of YAC for over two years. She finds YAC to be “creative, innovative ›››
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Meet Kylie
Kylie, a 16-year-old homeschooled through Ocean Grove Charter, has been a member of YAC for three years and finds it to be a “welcoming, informative, and safe” place for her to pursue her artistic interests. ›››
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Meet Darlene
Darlene, a 20 year old in the midst of her gap year, has attended YAC since high school. After studying abroad for one year in Indonesia, she returned back to Monterey County and to YAC, ›››
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Meet Demitria
Demitria, a 19-year-old MPC Freshmen, has been a member of YAC for 4+ years, when her Mother, thankfully, introduced her to the organization. When Demi first joined she considered herself very shy and reluctant to ›››
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Meet Brian
Brian, a 21 year old, self-described stoic and compassionate individual, is taking a leave of absence from the Santa Fe University of Art & Design. He has been a member of YAC for 3 years ›››
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Meet Merritt
Merritt, a 17-year-old Independent Study Senior, has been a member of YAC for 4 years – since she was a high school freshman. She finds YAC to be “supportive, open and motivational;” a place where ›››
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Meet Grace
Grace, a 17-year-old Senior at Monterey High, has been a member of YAC for 3.5 years – since she was a high school freshman. She finds YAC to be “unique, expressive and quirky,” as well ›››
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Meet Angela
Angela, a 19-year-old sophomore at MPC, has gratefully been a member of YAC for 4+ years and is now the intern. Not a huge surprise, as she remembers carefully redrawing the covers of VHS cartoon ›››
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Meet Ellie
Ellie, a 16-year-old Junior at York, has been a member of Youth Arts Collective for a year. She first remembers doing art when, at five years old, she made her younger sister a book about ›››
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Meet Lizzy
Lizzy, a 16-year-old Junior at Pacific Grove High School, has been a member of YAC for a year and a half and loves being part of such a “colorful, happy, creative” community. Being a YACster ›››
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Meet Justin
Justin, an 18 year old who just finished his freshmen year at CSU Monterey Bay, has been a YACster for two years and considers it his number one inspiration. Since joining YAC, which he finds ›››
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Meet Andrea
Andrea, a 18 year old Senior at York School, has been a member of YAC for over four months and as she finds it to be “colorful, eclectic and welcoming” will be sad to leave ›››
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Meet Natalia
Natalia, a 16-year-old R.L. Stevenson Junior, has been a member of Youth Arts Collective since she started High School. Natalia describes YAC as cozy, welcoming, diverse and awesome! Having been a YACster for over two ›››
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Meet Esteban
Esteban Esteban, a 19 year old Sophomore at Monterey Peninsula College, has been a YACster for 3 ½ years. A passionate, driven, perfectionist, Esteban first discovered his love of art when docents would arrive into ›››
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