This painting by Elsa Carter is part of the exhibition "Crossing Superior: Painting Memories," opening tomorrow at the Copper Country Community Arts Center.

HANCOCK — “Crossing Superior: Painting Memories” an exhibition by Elsa Carter and Virginia Szok, the 2025 Isle Royale Teen Artists in Residence is on display tomorrow through July 31 in the Youth Gallery at the Copper Country Community Arts Center in downtown Hancock.

Since 2017 the Copper Country Community Arts Center has supported the Isle Royale National Park Teen Artist Exploration program through partnership, program development, and on-island mentorship with artist and CCCAC Executive Director Bonnie Loukus. Through the years teen artists have had the opportunity to exhibit their work in the Youth Gallery at the CCCAC the following summer after their residency. This year the CCCAC welcomes the two teen artists from last year’s program, Virginia Szok and Elsa Carter.

Virginia Szok is a 16 year old artist from Fort Worth, Texas. While she works with a variety of mediums, she specializes in acrylic paint. Virginia is currently a junior at the Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts and plans to continue her artistic education in college.

Elsa Carter is a plein air oil painter living near Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park in Northern Michigan. Her passion is to capture the natural world around her and the memories that these landscapes hold within her paintings. Growing up in such an area has given her a unique perspective and enthusiasm for nature.

The Isle Royale National Park Teen Artist Exploration is for all aspiring teen artists who want to develop their art through experiencing wilderness. It is an annual juried artist residency sponsored by Isle Royale National Park and is open to all visual and performing artists, writers, and composers ages 13 to 18 at time of participation. More information about the program can be found at https://www.nps.gov/isro/getinvolved/teen-artist.htm.

The opening reception will take place from , June 5 from 5-6pm with an artist talk at 5:30pm. All are welcome. The exhibition runs June 5-July 31, 2026.

The Copper Country Community Arts Center is located at 126 Quincy Street in Hancock and is open Tuesday-Friday 11am-6pm and Saturday 10am-2pm.