More than 100 people drank in the words shared by healers, artists and social activists as they discussed “Corn Mothers’” contributions to their communities.
Corn Mother is a concept based on a Pueblo myth and is synonymous with Mother Earth. It symbolizes growth, creativity and feminine aspects of creation.
“I was raised by Corn Mothers and so wanted to see this exhibit,” Chochehenia, an exhibit attendee, said.
The crowd at MSU Denver’s Center for Visual Arts came together because they are Corn Mothers or have been influenced by Corn Mothers.
“My Aunt Lucy Lucero was the first Corn Mother. She had raised all these kids down in the neighborhood on the west side (of Denver),” said Dr. Renee Fajardo, curator of the “Return of the Corn Mothers” exhibit at the CVA.
The evening of Sept. 20 at the exhibit’s opening, visitors mingled at a panel discussion and reception. The CVA, in conjunction with the Colorado Folk Arts Council, will be hosting the award-winning anthology through Nov. 2.
More than just visual art, “Return of the Corn Mothers” features photos of the women in their own environments by award-winning photographer Todd Pierson. The exhibit also includes a documentary short, artwork commissioned for the exhibit that was created by Corn Mothers and stories about the Corn Mothers.
The exhibit was given life by Dr. Fajardo’s desire to tell the stories of women she considers remarkable and who are relatively unknown by society at large. A source of pride for many at MSU Denver, the exhibit represents a collaborative effort of many departments, including the art, African American studies, women’s Studies, Chicano studies, health professions and diversity departments, said Dr. Fajardo. The project was awarded a grant in 2007 by the Rocky Mountain Women’s Institute.
The Corn Mothers come from diverse cultures, have unique talents and are multi-generational. They represent the enduring contribution women have made to society since the beginning of time. The exhibit tells not only the story of the 32 Corn Mothers honored, but shares each of their unique philosophies and the stories of their own mothers who influenced them. It embodies women’s time-honored tradition of passing wisdom from generation to generation.
“What they do have in common is the respect and admiration of the people in their community,” Dr. Fajardo said.
Talya Dornbush of the CVA helped visitors weave their own stories of Corn Mothers into a backstrap loom, creating a textile testament to women who influenced them. As the evening drew to a close, a smoky scent drifted through the air while the Huitzilopochtli Aztec dance group performed a smudging, or ceremonial cleansing ritual.
“It’s really given back to me as much as I’ve given it,” Pierson said. “It’s not my vision; it all revolves around who they are in their story.”
One may leave the “Return of the Corn Mothers” exhibit with a sense of respect and admiration for Corn Mothers and an awareness of the threads woven through the fabric of society by unsung heroines in their own lives.
“Human beings should be honored while here on this earth,” said Dr. Ramon Del Castillo, chair of the Chicano studies department at MSU Denver.

Tags: art, Center for Visual Art, Corn Mothers, CVA, exhibit, MSU Denver