Hanging tapestry made by Rita Flores de Wallace
Crocheted tapestry made by Rita Flores de Wallace. Tapestry consists of multi-colored and black yarn with loops of black and pink beads along bottom edges. Top of tapestry is woven onto a wooden rod.
Donated to History Colorado by Rita Flores de Wallace & John Wallace.
The Corn Mothers Project preserves the legacy of Colorado women leaders, activists, artists, spiritual healers and educators. Corn Mother Rita Flores Wallace was born in Nuevo Leon, Mexico in 1937. She spent her formative years travelling throughout Mexico with her family, studying Indigenous folk art. She studied dance in the prestigious Bellas Artes Academy in Mexico City and performed with the Coahuilan dance troupe for twelve years. She taught Indigenous and Mexican folk art traditions throughout Mexico. Rita moved to Denver with her husband, John Wallace in 1978 and quickly began to work in schools and museums teaching Mexican folk art, dance, oral traditions, and her bordado mágico (magic embroidery) to hundreds of children in Colorado. She has received numerous awards for her work with the community including: the Rex Morgan Award from Denver’s SCFD for contributing time, talent, and spirit to positively impact the cultural community, Centro San Juan Diego’s Las Madrinas Award, Denver Public Schools Lena Archuleta Community Award, and the Colorado Council on the Arts Master Artist Award.