Ren Cannon is a printmaker, ceramicist, and painter based in Denver, CO. Ren works extensively with teens and adults of all ages as an art instructor at the Art Students League of Denver. In their previous role as teen librarian for 19 years at the Denver Public Library they developed programming, taught workshops, and built relationships with Denver’s diverse youth community.
Ren works with young people because they love the energy, curiosity, and perspective that young people bring. They feel strongly that helping connect youth to their internal thoughts and current events enables young people to think critically, help manage emotions, and gives them a creative outlet to deal with things in a productive and intentional manner. Ren is trained in trauma informed care practices, teen brain development, and verbal de-escalation techniques.
When working with elders, Ren seeks to highlight and celebrate the deeper experience and curiosity elders bring to the table. To achieve this, Ren emphasizes play, curiosity, and process over product allowing participants to develop their own voice and path within the program.