Hispanic art unique to southern Colorado on display in Arvada
9News | Jeremy Jojola | October 30, 2023
ARVADA, Colo. — From the infamous La Llorona legend to life on a farm, art by women of the San Luis Valley captures history and stories in southern Colorado.
Credit: KUSA | A colcha embroidery map of the San Luis Valley by Tiva Trujillo.
For Trent Segura, preserving this unique art form became a passion after learning that his great-aunt, Tiva Trujillo, was a prolific Colcha artist.
“I see a lot of myself in the artwork," Segura said. "Personally, it’s a way for me to see where my family comes from and where we are situated in the world.”
Tiva Trujillo’s work, along with many other artists from the San Luis Valley, is currently on display at the Arvada Center through Nov. 12.
The colcha stitch originated in Spanish colonial times in the southwest, predominantly in northern New Mexico. It’s believed that the style of stitch began as a method to repair garments and make bedding.
As the form of embroidery made its way to southern Colorado, artists began depicting colcha images of everyday life in the San Luis Valley, along with unique stories and history.