PRESS

COTTONWOOD IN THE NEWS

“ARTS MONTH” BY NICK RAVEN

PIKES PEAK BULLETIN, OCTOBER 2024

…A multi-function creative space and workspace featuring 130 artists and 70 galleries and a schedule of art classes, the venue is inviting people to their main gallery this October for “Bump in the Night”, an homage to “classic horror tropes, monsters and beasts, hauntings and Lovecraftian visions of what lies beyond the borders of normalcy.”

As we chat, Cottonwood’s events director, Samantha Abbott, brings out a sculpture from that new exhibit: the evil feline Church from the horror film “Pet Semetary.”…

“creative space for artistic endeavors” by Cara Bukacek

COLORADO SPRINGS LIFESTYLE, NOVEMBER 2023

“RADIO HOUR,” JACQUELINE VIOLA MOULTON INTERVIEW WITH NOVA

LOVING, LIVING LOCAL FOX21 JANUARY 17, 2023

“‘Jumbo Shrimp' brings artistic irony, big and small, to Colorado Springs” by stephanie earls

THE GAZETTE, DECEMBER 13, 2022

Cottonwood Center for the Arts’ upcoming “Jumbo Shrimp” show is not a special seafood buffet, but an ironic spatial feast for the eyes, big picture and small. The Colorado Springs nonprofit arts organization presents a gallery show that creatively experiments with scale and provides a twist on viewers’ perceptions.

“First-of-its-kind exhibit in Colorado Springs showcases custom car and motorcycle art” by barbara fox

krdo, july 2, 2022

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO)-- The Cottonwood Center of the Arts is hosting a new event called Cars and Stripes, which highlights 13 different artists across the nation that take part in "Kustom Kulture".

“13 artists in a Juneteenth exhibit in Colorado Springs take on heavy social issues to more lighthearted topics” by Josie Fischels

the denver post, june 17, 2022

Leonard Anderson’s “passion for fashion” is clear in his photography. The Denver-based artist specializes in professional headshots and editorial fashion shoots like the ones he did for an exhibit at the Cottonwood Arts Center in Colorado Springs that features 13 artists of color.

“JUNETEENTH EXHIBIT IN COLORADO SPRINGS TO FEATURE ARTISTS OF COLOR” BY JENNIFER MULSON

THE GAZETTE, JUNE 2, 2022

Artist Thomas Elias Lockhart has become a history buff through his work. His paintings and mixed-media pieces aren’t only visually appealing, but also rich with context. Take his painting “Give Her Liberty.” A young Black girl stands in a crowd of immigrants as the Statue of Liberty looms over them in the background. Lockhart schooled himself on the history of the great New York monument, and its creator, the French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, as he made the piece.

“METAMORPHOSIS” BY ANNA FIORINO

THE COLORADO SPRINGS INDEPENDENT, MARCH 9, 2022

[T]hrough this then/now comparison, Metamorphosis reminds us why we create to begin with. “I really hope that seeing this collection of work will encourage people to think about, ‘What can I produce that will improve me as a person, as an artist, rather than just thinking about that next Instagram post or the social media [reaction]?’” says Preble. “I hope it brings a little bit of the magic of just creating back to people, to artists, to the community as a whole.”

“the arts are emerging stronger from pandemic challenges ” by jeanne devant

the colorado springs independent, September 22, 2021

“Greater support for the arts ‘will happen not by asking the patrons for support,’ he says. That’s the mistake that arts organizations make. It will happen when the artists realize they need to produce a product that the patron says, ‘That’s worth something to me… Cultural currency ultimately translates into financial currency.’”

Art by Isiah Reed. Photo credit: Rachel Cubi-Riley

“Art from the incarcerated rehabilitates, connects population with outside world” by Anna Fiorino

the colorado springs independent, august 25, 2021

“Incarcerated artists are usually forced to be creative to work around limitations, says Jon Khoury, executive director of Cottonwood. While they are able to obtain art materials from the commissary, a lot of pieces are made from found materials. “As far as the mediums go, they were more about what was available than what the intent of the artist might have been, given all of the tools to work with,” says Khoury, “which made it even more fascinating. Because now, it’s about: I have to find a way to tell my story …”

“The Magic of Story (Pencil Holder)” by Samuel Mulliken, soap, tissue, cardstock

“Cottonwood’s Juneteenth show celebrates community, more local events ” by Anna Fiorino & Mary Jo Meade

the Colorado springs independent, june 16, 2021

“Lisa Villanueva has been turned away from many Colorado galleries for being ‘too different,’ a phrase she believes is used to camouflage the real criticism: too Afrocentric. A few years ago, the artist/activist/community advocate found her home at Cottonwood Center for the Arts. This month, she collaborated with Brandon Bornes, co-founder of My Black Colorado, and Jess Preble, director of curation at Cottonwood, to put on a Juneteenth-inspired exhibit that celebrates community and freedom.”

“Not Your Grandmother’s colorado springs” by brandon schultz

forbes, june 5, 2021

“If you’re feeling inspired by the creativity flowing through the city and want to try your hand at a new technique or bring home something special from the pros, visit Cottonwood Center for the Arts to explore the studios of 80 artists, shop the galleries or even take a class.”

United States Olympic and Paralympic Museum, Photo Credit: Jason O’Rear

“The Stations of the Cross: in Atonement for Abuse and for the Healing of All” by anna fiorino

the colorado springs independent, May 19, 2021

“The collection aims to shift the focus from the abusers to the survivors. In acknowledging survivors’ experiences in a way that fully addresses their pain— rather than diluting or circumventing for the sale of ‘moving forward’—art becomes a vehicle for faith and healing.”

“DENIM DAY: ART exhibition shows transformation and healing of sexual assault survivors” by ashley portillo

koaa news5, April 28, 2021

“‘We want to advocate for prevention in the community. The survivors will give us a statement about what it meant to them, to do this piece of art, and how it helped them heal,’ said [Joyce] Aubrey. ‘We know that trauma is stored in a different part of the brain, and doing creative activities helps move that trauma to where we have access to it, so we can heal and recover to our authentic selves.’”

“colorado springs nonprofit’s annual art exhibit features work by survivors of sexual assault” by jennifer mulson

the gazette, April 8, 2021

“Aubrey is the president and founder of Finding Our Voices, a nonprofit that provides healing art activities for survivors of sexual assault. Since 2008, the organization has helped hundreds of survivors through donation-based monthly art workshops, weekly stream of consciousness writing classes, retreats, weekly support groups led by a licensed clinical social worker and an annual art show, featuring work by survivors. The exhibits have been held at Cottonwood Center for the Arts since 2014.”

“Behind the scenes at downtown nonprofit arts complex in colorado springs” by jennifer mulson

THE gazette, April 5, 2021

“…the nonprofit arts complex has housed 100 creators tucked into their cozy, rented studios where they paint, build, sketch, write and dream up ways to express their creativity. There’s a tattoo artist who offers astrology readings, a hair salon, photography studios and a nonprofit dedicated to helping survivors of sexual assault. Spoken word poetry group Hear Here Poetry has a studio, as does Springs Spirituality Metaphysical Shop.”

“New Colorado Springs exhibit features photos from Black Lives Matter protests across country” by jennifer mulson

THE gazette, february 24, 2021

“Rachel Cubi-Riley watched the killing of George Floyd last year with her 15-year-old son and saw the fear in the boy’s eyes. The emotion was unacceptable to the Puerto Rican photographer, Army wife and mother of two boys. ‘I didn’t want him to be scared anymore,’ says Fountain resident Cubi-Riley. ‘I didn’t want that to be the message he grows up with.’”

“The Coolest murals in colorado springs” by samantha ripley

uncover colorado, december 7, 2020

“If you or someone you love has suffered with depression, you may be aware of just how isolating this illness can be. This mural, which was painted by artist Michael Fudge in 2017, is located on the west side of Cottonwood Center for the Arts.”

“city support for the arts” by jon khoury

THE gazette, october 8, 2020

“I encourage this community to stand proud, come and see the diversity of expression that has come from these current challenges, and perhaps reach the conclusion that universally we all want the same things from life. Seeing these expressions through the artistic mind could certainly help us arrive at the same, better destination, as one.”

“(More) good news: Stories of innovation in the local arts scene” by jonathan toman

THE COLORADO SPRINGS INDEPENDENT, MAY 13, 2020

“Khoury says two big themes drove the event. First, expanding on virtual arts experiences with an in-person offering to help get people out of the house. And second, though the local creative sector is in great need of assistance, to show that the arts can be a pillar of support for the community and play a large role in maintaining the cultural health of the region.”

“virtual first friday adds drive-by exhibit in colorado springs” by jen Mulson

the gazette, april 30, 2020

“‘It will be like driving through a wildlife preserve,’ says Jon Khoury, Cottonwood’s CEO and executive director. The drive-by idea was born of Khoury’s desire to keep live engagement with the arts alive. ‘We have to start thinking about how we’re going to live with this virus, and not just act defensively,’ he says. ‘We want people to start to think how are we going to live and possibly engage.’”

“Inside stories: Powerful artwork from colorado’s forgotten incarcerated” by zach hillstrom

THE COLORADO SPRINGS INDEPENDENT, MAY 4, 2020

“Beginning this Friday at the downtown Cottonwood Center for the Arts, you’ll be able to view more than 150 pieces of artwork created by DOC inmates from six prisons…The exhibit features a wide range of innovative and creative mediums including bar soap, flex pens, and homemade charcoal, as well as more traditional ones like colored pencil, oil on canvas, acrylic, and watercolors.”

Jess Preble, 12th annual Business + Arts Lunch Honoree

2019 Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC and Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region

“Blue Twig Studio gives artists space to create” by erinn callahan

the COLORADO SPRINGS business journal, february 8, 2020

“‘It’s just a much nicer community,’ Prewitt said of Cottonwood. ‘It’s a family here as opposed to being in a strip mall. … I think getting that connection with other people that understand you — or that are connected to the same kind of world as you are — is important.’”

“77 Art Galleries in Colorado Springs You Won’t Want to Miss” BY SAMANTHA RIPLEY

uncover colorado, october 6, 2019

“Cottonwood is located in an old office building and its hallways are a maze, with art from its residents decorating just about every wall available. One thing that Cottonwood emphasizes is their mission to promote creative expression, no matter what that might look like for you. They want to set themselves apart from the more pretentious art community and let the public know that art is a pursuit everyone should take up, whether you aim to become a professional or not.”

“how to be an artist with jon khoury” BY lauren collier

“Idea Accelerator with lauren collier,” studio809, september 12, 2017

“Jon Khoury is the Executive Director of Cottonwood Center for the Arts, and is a board member of The Downtown Partnership, The Colorado Springs Public Market and Board President of The Public Arts Commission. A Colorado College Graduate, class of 1984, he’s thrilled to be back in Colorado Springs, helping move the city forward by giving voice to those who may not be easily heard!”

“narrowing in on venture philanthropy” BY amber baillie

the colorado springs business journal, february 17, 2017

“‘We have a track record of making our own investment in social change, and now what we’re doing is showing the new metrics of the money that was loaned to us,’ Khoury said. “Those numbers are jumping through the roof because we’ve already proved the most important point — that social change can come through the arts and it can be done in ways that people wouldn’t typically predict.’”

“Analysis: Cottonwood draws international artists” BY john hazlehurst

the colorado springs business journal, july 25, 2016

“‘We all built this theater together,” said Cottonwood Executive Director Jon Khoury. “That’s how we do everything here. We all work, and we all get paid for our work. Total cost: $11,000. It used to be this junky storage space, and now it’s a revenue generator. We bring in $1,000 to $1,500 a month from it.’”

“project leader hopes colorado springs public market will sprout on thIRd try” BY maria st. louis-sanchez

the gazette, july 16, 2016

“In Khoury's vision, the market will serve as a place for people to gather and to offer a healthy alternative to groceries in the downtown area - where there are no regular sources for food other than convenience stores and restaurants."

Cottonwood Center for the Arts