2022 Corn Mothers Exhibition
Running Now on 4th Floor Mezzanine
The long-awaited multi-generational and multi-cultural love letter to the women of the Southwest, whose lives and work embody the spirit of community, this award-winning traveling photographic exhibition features photos and stories of 70 women all past and present who represent the spirit of the Corn Mothers.
The exhibition is through Sept. 2023 and is honoring the addition of 22 new women to the project. (See Below)
The Closing Reception
is Fri. Sept. 29, 2023, 5:00 - 9:00 pm
History Colorado, Denver.
(Open to the Public and Free of Charge)
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm Cocktail Hour/Meet & Greet on the 4th floor
Many Corn Mothers will have tables/booths to share with you
featuring Music,Books, CDs, Art & other items created by individual Corn Mothers.
6:30 pm - 9:00 pm Closing Ceremony
Enjoy an evening of music, food & entertainment
Please save this date and sign-up for the closing reception
on the History Colorado Events page to RSVP.
________________________________________________________
If you would like to view the 2022 Return of the Corn Mothers Book!
If you would like to buy a book contact History Colorado Gift Shop or email jtoh2016@gmail.com
Return of the Corn Mothers: Inspiring Women of the Southwest |
Return of the Corn Mothers: Mujeres inspiradoras del suroeste
ENGLISH:
The Indigenous peoples of southern Mexico started domesticating maize over 9,000 years ago. As cultivation of the once wild grass spread throughout the “Americas” and globally, the significance of this life-giving food was immortalized in legend and story. Among Southwest Pueblo peoples, the iconic Corn Mother deity embodied growth, life, creativity, community, and creation.
The Return of the Corn Mothers project is a book and photographic and written history exhibition of multi-generational and multi-cultural women from the Southwest who exemplify the essence of Corn Mother.
This project showcases southwestern women across cultures and generations who exemplify the essence of Corn Mother. Photographer Todd Pierson, editor Ed Winograd, graphic designer Toinette Brown, and curator Renee Fajardo, in conjunction with MSU Denver Chicana/o Studies, the Colorado Folk Arts Council, and the Chicano Humanities Arts Council, have spent fifteen years documenting the stories of women, chosen by their communities, who have made selfless contributions and creative endeavors to better the lives of others.
Return of the Corn Mothers marks a three-year effort to honor twenty-two new Corn Mothers in 2022. What began in 2007, with a small grant from the Rocky Mountain Women’s Institute and eight local women, has now expanded to include more than seventy women.
SPANISH:
Los pueblos indígenas del sur de México comenzaron a domesticar el maíz hace más de nueve mil años. A medida que el cultivo de esta planta —que una vez fue silvestre— se extendió por el continente americano y a nivel mundial, el significado de este alimento vivificador quedó inmortalizado en leyendas e historias. Los pueblos del suroeste creían en la Madre del maíz, una deidad icónica que encarnaba el crecimiento, la vida, la creatividad, la comunidad y la creación.
Además de ser un libro, el proyecto Return of the Corn Mothers (El regreso de las madres del maíz) es una exposición fotográfica y de historia escrita sobre mujeres que abarcan varias generaciones y culturas del suroeste y ejemplifican la esencia de la Madre del maíz.
Este proyecto muestra a mujeres del suroeste pertenecientes a diversas culturas y generaciones que ejemplifican la esencia de la madre del maíz. Durante quince años, el fotógrafo Todd Pierson, el editor Ed Winograd, la diseñadora gráfica Toinette Brown y la curadora Renee Fajardo, junto con MSU Denver Chicana/o Studies, el Colorado Folk Arts Council y el Chicano Humanities Arts Council, documentaron las historias de mujeres, elegidas por sus comunidades, que hicieron aportes desinteresados y esfuerzos creativos para mejorar la vida de los demás.
— 22 Women in 2022 —
Ellen Alires-Trujillo
Boulder, Colorado
Honored at History Colorado, Denver, Colorado, October 21, 2022
Batkhishig Batochir (Baja)
denver, Colorado
Honored at History Colorado, Denver, Colorado, October 21, 2022
Genevieve Canales
Greeley, Colorado
Honored at History Colorado, Denver, Colorado, October 21, 2022
Alicia Cardenas
Denver, Colorado
Honored at History Colorado, Denver, Colorado, October 21, 2022
Portrait Painted by: Emanuel Martinez www.emanuelmartinez.com. www.emanuelproject.org
Tina Cartagena
Denver, Colorado
Honored at History Colorado, Denver, Colorado, October 21, 2022
Connie Margaret Coca
Laramie, Wyoming
Honored at History Colorado, Denver, Colorado, October 21, 2022
Juliana Aragón Fatula
Cañon CitY, Colorado
Honored at History Colorado, Denver, Colorado, October 21, 2022
Karen D. Gonzales
Denver, Colorado
Honored at History Colorado, Denver, Colorado, October 21, 2022
Norma Johnson
Boulder, Colorado
Honored at History Colorado, Denver, Colorado, October 21, 2022
Elena Holly Klaver
Niwot, Colorado
Honored at History Colorado, Denver, Colorado, October 21, 2022
Lucha Aztzin Martínez de Luna
Golden, Colorado
Honored at History Colorado, Denver, Colorado, October 21, 2022
Deborah Martinez Martinez
PUEBLO, Colorado
Honored at History Colorado, Denver, Colorado, October 21, 2022
Jennifer McBride
PARKER, Colorado
Honored at History Colorado, Denver, Colorado, October 21, 2022
Laura (Laurita) Naranjo
Denver, Colorado
Honored at History Colorado, Denver, Colorado, October 21, 2022
Adrienne Norris
Denver, Colorado
Honored at History Colorado, Denver, Colorado, October 21, 2022
Erica Padilla
Denver, Colorado
Honored at History Colorado, Denver, Colorado, October 21, 2022
Jo Elizabeth Pinto
Brighton, Colorado
Honored at History Colorado, Denver, Colorado, October 21, 2022
Sandra Ortega
San Luis, Colorado
Honored at History Colorado, Denver, Colorado, October 21, 2022
Shirley Romero Otero
San LUIS, Colorado
Honored at History Colorado, Denver, Colorado, October 21, 2022
Evangeline Roybal Sena
Blanca, Colorado
Honored at History Colorado, Denver, Colorado, October 21, 2022
Marge Taniwaki
denver, Colorado
Honored at History Colorado, Denver, Colorado, October 21, 2022
Jeanette Trujillo-Lucero
denver, Colorado
Honored at History Colorado, Denver, Colorado, October 21, 2022
Corn Mother Carving on Display by
Rob Yancey
Is a sculptor who hand carves in wood, creating Spanish Colonial art in the form of bultos and retablos, His art has a northern New Mexico influence and vibe to it. He also paints and makes Día de los Muertos style clay masks. Rob has won numerous awards for his art and is known to teach art classes. He formerly owned Arte de Taos from 2010 – 2012 in Taos, NM, and routinely does art demonstrations and donates his artwork to worthy causes like the Corn Mothers.
"Corn Mother" 80x30" HandCarved Wood with Acrylic
This project has been made possible by funding from the Colorado Folk Arts Council, Chicano Humanities Arts Council, Metropolitan State University of Denver, AARP, US Bank, Community ACTS Fund, and Jamie Torres-Denver District 3.
PLATINUM Sponsors
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