50% of the Story Program Series - CSPM
50% of the Story program Series logo

50% of the Story Program Series

Meg Yevara, CSPM Program Coordinator

 Through the 50% of the Story: Women Expressing Creativity Program Series, guests are invited to explore how throughout time women have always told their stories through art and creativity. Join the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum and the artists featured in the exhibit for interactive programs, lectures, art workshops and more. This series is presented in partnership with the Cottonwood Center for the Arts.

50% of the Story: Women Expressing Creativity

Women have always been creative. Women have always been artistic. Women have always been artists. Yet, their work has remained largely unrecognized. This is not surprising, considering women’s art represents approximately 10% of works collected by museums. 50% of the Story: Women Expressing Creativity transforms the CSPM collection to more accurately reflect the complexity, diversity, and uniqueness of the Pikes Peak region. Using historic artwork and artifacts, alongside contemporary pieces, the 50% exhibit creates a beautiful conversation between women across time, demonstrating how they’ve always told their stories through art and creativity. — From the CSPM Curator of History
Explore the art in the exhibit

KICKING OFF THE SERIES

The 50% of the Story Program Series launched on Saturday, August 31 with Destination Rest: A Community Nap. This program was presented by Ashley Cornelius (program creator and Pikes Peak Poet Laureate), Sam Paulin, and Mallory Everhart. This creative and powerful program explored rest as a social justice issue as it “replenishes us, helps us process trauma, and builds our resilience.” The program aimed to “engage the community in long-term self-care, creative self-expression, and deep rest for generations to come.” The relaxing morning opened with hot tea and writing personal affirmations in the museum lobby. We then moved to the new Accessorize It! exhibit where participants laid on colorful yoga mats and experienced an original poem by Cornelius and a healing sound bath as they rested. The program concluded with a writing and reflection exercise in our 50% of the Story: Women Expressing Creativity exhibit. Ashley Cornelius is a featured artist in the exhibit with her original poem “Prismatic” that you can watch HERE. 

Quoted phrases from Ashley Cornelius’ program description. The images below were taken by Chris Beasley.

Program participants sit in chairs in the museum lobby while the program presenter, Ashley Cornelius, speaks to them.
Sipping tea and writing personal affirmations
Program participants lay on the floor of the "Accessorize It!" exhibit on top of colorful yoga mats while the program presenter, Ashley Cornelius, walks around them.
Resting in the "Accessorize It!" exhibit
Program participants sit on the floor and a bench and walk around the "50% of the Story" exhibit. They are writing in notebooks and looking at the art on the walls.
Writing and reflecting in the "50% of the Story" exhibit

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

50% of the Story Book Talk logo

Book Talk: The Story of Art Without Men

  • Saturday, March 15, 2025, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
  • facilitated by Sophia Rose, 50% Artist

The CSPM’s exhibit, 50% of the Story: Women Expressing Creativity, considers the alarming statistic that women’s art represents approximately 10% of works collected by museums. Join 50% of the Story artist, Sophia Rose for a discussion of “The Story of Art Without Men” by author Katy Hessel. Hessel challenges her audience with questions like “How many women artists do you know? Who makes art history? Did women even work as artists before the twentieth century?”  Sophia Rose will share the story behind her own work and then lead a guided discussion on the themes of the book. Participants should read the book in advance and come ready to engage and discuss.  

Click to Register
Portrait Photo of Programs Coordinator, Meg Poole.

Meg Yevara, Program Coordinator

719.385.5631 | Meg.Yevara@coloradosprings.gov