Don't miss a charming popup student photography exhibition at Couse-Sharp Historic Site’s Lunder Research Center: Through the Lens of Taos Day School 2026. Working with Taos Pueblo seventh and eighth graders from Taos Day School, a Couse-Sharp Historic Site (CSHS) team created an elective workshop to teach photography skills, and the resulting photos are on view October 22 through 31.

This is the second iteration of Through the Lens; the first workshop was in 2023 and that work was shown in early 2024. The program idea originated with Carol Rinehart, who managed the first workshop and exhibition. “When the Taos Day School students came to the [summer 2023] Reflections: Taos Pueblo and the Photography of E. I. Couse exhibition at CSHS, I saw several point out their great-great grandfather or other family members,” Rinehart said. “I said to them, ‘You should take photographs of your people and Pueblo through your eyes.’ Kids’ expressions of what they see is so important to us.”

Participating artists are Otis Banteah-Sandy, Alessandro Billie, Jade Martinez, Ruby Sprague, Cassy Tedesco, and Aaliyah Vigil. For the summer 2026 workshop, each was given a digital camera, and Taos-area photographer Charles Jim Cox instructed them in the basics of creating artful photography: composition, lighting, focus, cropping, and more. “Teaching is one of my fascinations in life,” said Cox. “When a student’s ‘light bulb’ goes off in their thoughts and they understand the greatness of an idea, watching it work, their faces light up. That moment is why I do it, my motivation.”

Taos Day School staff member Marlee Espinoza coordinated with students and instructor.

The students, ages 12 to 13, visited The Lunder Research Center at CSHS early in the program to hear the story of the Taos Society of Artists and the importance of the work created in partnership with models from Taos Pueblo. They viewed many photographs that Couse took that documented the people and traditions of Taos Pueblo, as well as examples by Indigenous artists who use art photography to examine life through a contemporary lens.

“More than a hundred years ago, a group of Anglo-American artists from the East came to Taos and began painting the people and landscape of Taos Valley,” explained Ilona Spruce, CSHS deputy director. “Most concentrated on the distinct culture of Taos Pueblo. Photography was often an important tool in their artistic process. E. I. Couse, for example, produced more than 6,000 photo studies of Taos Pueblo models for future paintings.”

Students focused their cameras on wildlife (and pets), landscapes, and portraits, with the ultimate goal of documenting their world, and participated in critiques on their work. At the end of the course, they each submitted several photographs, 18 of which were chosen for the exhibition, and all of which are for sale.

Through the Lens reverses the camera’s “gaze” to showcase the perspectives of these six young people. The educational team aims for the students’ success to encourage and empower them and other youth at Taos Pueblo. The workshop and exhibition are underwritten by Carol and Rich Rinehart and the Taos Pueblo Day School Arts Education Fund, a partnership of CSHS and Parsons Gallery of Taos.

Exhibition details
Through the Lens of Taos Day School 2026
October 22–31, 2026
Dean Porter Gallery, Lunder Research Center
Couse-Sharp Historic Site
138 Kit Carson Road, Taos, NM

Open 1–5 pm Tuesdays through Saturdays. Free admission; donations welcomed. All exhibited student photographs are for sale.