"Beaded Bag" by Debra Box - CSPM
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“Beaded Bag” by Debra Box

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

Beaded Bag by Debra Box, Glass Seed Beads and Deer Hide

Artist Statement 

Debra Box is a registered Southern Ute who didn’t expect her life to take an unforeseen turn into the art world. Debra experimented in traditional, museum-quality beadwork making beaded items for her and her husband. They participated in mountain man rendezvouses. It was a chance trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1986, they came upon the Santa Fe Indian Market. It is a yearly Native American art market which draws collectors from all over the world to view and buy Native American art. Debra applied to the market in 1987 and has participated every year. Debra is recognized for her beadwork and her painted rawhide containers. Debra’s rawhide containers are based on storage containers her ancestors used to store their everyday items and possessions. Debra loves to research beadwork and the rawhide containers when traveling to various museums. She has had the privilege to have her artwork bought by museums, celebrities, journalists and fashion designers.

"Beaded Bag" by Debra Box, Glass Seed Beads and Deer Hide
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