OUR VISION
At Shutter and Strum, we envision a world where every individual, regardless of circumstance, has the opportunity to:
● explore their creativity
● express themselves
● find healing through the transformative power of the arts
We are committed to:
● providing accessible and experiential learning opportunities in film/darkroom photography, art gallery curation, songwriting, and music performance
● integrating music with core subjects,
● fostering a space for youth to cultivate mindfulness and pursue their artistic passions.
Our vision is to inspire and empower at-risk/underserved youth in Colorado Springs, offering them authentic mentorship and artistic pathways to overcome difficulties and generational trauma, fostering personal recovery in a safe and non-judgmental environment.
WE NEED YOU
We are deeply committed to incorporating the vibrant and diverse cultural fabric of Colorado Springs into our vision. With its thriving art and music scene, Colorado Springs is home to a talented community whose creative expressions enrich the local culture. Our mission is to collaborate closely with local artists, musicians, and cultural organizations to establish a supportive network that nurtures the artistic aspirations of young people.
Through partnerships with organizations like the Pikes Peak Arts Council and music venues such as What's Left Records, we are able to offer our participants exposure to a wide range of artistic experiences and mentorship opportunities.
We are only able to do this work because of our generous donors, whose contributions play a crucial role in helping us fulfill our mission. Your support provides us with the necessary resources to create an environment where young talents can thrive.
We deeply appreciate your belief in our vision and are fully committed to honoring your dedication by ensuring that every donation directly translates into meaningful opportunities for all individuals we aim to serve.
OUR TEAM
Brian Tryon
Photography and Visual Arts Program Coordinator, Instructor
As a certified addiction counselor and photography instructor at Community Prep School (CPS) since 2016, Brian has taught various classes focused on manual and digital photography, photo editing, matting and framing, and art business. He has also taught courses and created pieces with an emphasis on visual arts, mixed media painting, acrylic, aerosol, and oil pastels. In March 2022, Brian opened an in-house gallery at CPS, called the Garfield Gallery, to publicly showcase the work of local professional artists as well as students. Brian, who realized his own recovery from addiction and past trauma by engaging in visual art and photography, has been passionate about extending this same opportunity to students in his work as an instructor. Shutter and Strum is the culmination of his vision to make these resources and opportunities available to Colorado Springs youth as a whole.
Lucy Hancock
Gallery Intern/Curator
SUPER cool. like SUPER COOL. Lucy slays with curation and occasionally art. SUPER responsible too. Lucy works at Shutter and Strum as a curator, hanging art and stealing candy and updating the website in a super timely manner. Sometimes they paint, but who’s to say?
10/10 employee, always slaying.
PRESS
New Colorado Springs community arts center focuses on at-risk, underserved youth
“Before Shutter and Strum, Tryon opened Garfield Art Gallery in 2022 in the basement of Community Prep School. The intention was the same — to run a gallery and help at-risk and underserved students at the school through programming. He relocated the equipment from the school to the new arts center and held the last Garfield art exhibit in September.
Tryon and Bacavis offer before- and after-school workshops and experiential learning opportunities in film and darkroom photography, gallery curation and management, songwriting, music performance and more. Schools and other organizations, such as Inside Out Youth Services, which provides support to LGBTQIA2+ youth, have partnered with the arts center. But programming also is available for kids who want to explore the arts on their own. Workshops and classes are offered on a sliding-scale basis or are free through scholarships for those with financial need.
The center will be funded through a GoFundMe, grants, donations, corporate sponsorship and fees from programs and classes.”
“We teach music pathways, art pathways, visual art pathways, how to run businesses and how to communicate with people and artists in the community and do it in a positive manner that’s going to help the students, the community and us grow and flourish.”
— Brian Tryon, Nov. 24, 2023, Interviewed by Nick Raven