We are very excited to announce that the UNC Commons Gallery in conjunction with Chicano Humanities Arts Council, Colorado Folk Arts Council, and MSU Denver Chicana/o Studies Department JTOH will host the award-winning, photo exhibition, Return of the Corn Mothers showing, June 2026 to October 15, 2026 in the UNC Campus Commons Gallery.
Along with this exhibition, there will be a selection of 6 to 7 new inductees from the Greeley/Northern Colorado Area into the Corn Mothers project. It takes the Corn Mother team about two years from start to finish to induct new Corn Mothers.
The exhibition features 70 stories and portraits of modern unsung heroines from the South West. We hope to add six to seven women from Northern Colorado, who will be inducted into 2026 exhibition. Award-winning photographer Todd Pierson has spent a decade photographing and interviewing subjects for the show. We are pleased that after three-year hiatus the exhibition was housed at History Colorado in 2022 for a yearlong tribute recognizing these deserving women.
Some of the past featured Corn Mothers include: Activist-Dr. Genevieve Canales is Professor Emerita, University of Northern Colorado (UNC Artist-Stella Teller (Isleta Pueblo, Potter), Evelyn Valdez-Martinez( San Luis Valley, Painter), Arlette Lucero ( Denver, muralist), Cynthia Ramu ( Pueblo Co, muralist)- Storytellers- Lois Burell ( Denver, African American Folklore), Rita Wallace ( Denver, Mexican Folklore), Cheri Karo Schwartz ( Denver, Jewish Storytelling Network)-Community Activist- Dr. Barbara Shannon Banister (Aurora, Civil Rights ), the late Dora Esquibel and Rita Martinez ( Southern Colorado, Chicano and Farm Worker Rights) Health & Wellness-Concha Allen ( New Mexico, Zapotec Counselor), Lisa Saldana ( Denver, Doula/ Birth Coach), Amy Banker ( Denver, Youth Arts Advocate ), Educational Outreach-Charlene Garcia Simms ( Pueblo City & County Library Dist.), Oneyda Maestas ( Adams State University C. A. S. A ), Dr. Ella Marie Ray (MSU Denver Africana Studies), Patricia Sigala(Denver, International Folk Arts Museum-N.M.) and Carrie Howell( Denver American Indian Festival).
The new exhibition will be designed to showcase the spirit of the Corn Mothers and feature interactive workshop throughout the year. We hope that those of you who have received this message will contemplate nominating a woman from Northern Colorado for the exhibition, who currently resides in Colorado. Nominees from all disciplines and back grounds are welcome.
Please submit the Nomination Form above. For more information please contact us at jtoh2016@gmail.com or call 720-329-0869.
Sincerely,
Dr. Renee Fajardo