Blind sculptor aims for national prize

It’s an art that one student relies on his other senses to make a sculpture.

Harrison Youngren, 17, sculpts in a way not many other students at Pueblo South High School do.

Youngren lost his eyesight when he was six years old after he had a brain tumor removed.

“Some days it’s rough, because you know other kids are out playing games and it’s like I wish I could do that,” he said.

But he turned to art as one of the activities he can do despite being blind.

“My janitor at my middle school in Beulah, he made a big mural for me and it was tactile and I really enjoyed that, it sparked something in me,” he said.

With the help of his art teacher, Brian Trimble, Youngren began sculpting.

“We are attached in a weird way. I am a sculptor, so when I sculpt, I use my eyes to see things, but I don’t use my eyes to fix my sculptures, I will turn my head and see the way Harrison sees, so we have this profound connection that him and I understand,” he said.

Youngren began sculpting his face with Trimble directing and giving him tips to improve the sculpture.

Youngren plans on entering his piece into a national contest for the American Printing House for the Blind.

He said not having his sight is not keeping him from achieving his goals.

“I use it as perseverance and everyone that Trimble shows my art to say, ‘Wow, Harrison, that’s amazing’, that makes me feel good about my art,” he said.

Youngren said he also shoots and does archery.

He said his next goal is to be the kicker for the South High School football team.