"First Light on Daniels Pass Trail" by Melani Tutt - CSPM
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“First Light on Daniels Pass Trail” by Melani Tutt

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

First Light on Daniels Pass Trail, Melani Tutt, Generously Donated by Melani Tutt and Darryl and Terry Thatcher

Artist Statement
Finding our natural surroundings a place of respite and reflection, Melani worked with Garden of the Gods Resort and Wellness Center to create fine art images for their rooms, casitas, and cottages reflecting that ethos. This project led to the publishing of her first photography book The Sacredness of Everything. Her next book on Cheyenne Cañon will be available in December of 2024.
Melani’s images are intimate portraits of the simple beauty which surrounds us daily. Turning tragedy into beauty, many of her recent pieces are taken in burn scar forests and printed on fine art photographic paper. She is a purist who works in black and white as well as color. Each print is archival matted, numbered and signed.

Artist Bio
Melani Tutt is a graduate of Brooks Institute of Photography in California with a Bachelor of Arts degree in large format film photography. She has worked commercially for over 30 years, most recently devoting her photographic efforts exclusively to helping nonprofit organizations in the Colorado Springs area, including Early Connections Learning Centers, Habitat for Humanity, Boys and Girls Club, Pikes Peak Community Foundation, the Tactile Gallery at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center and many others.

Finding our natural surroundings a place of respite and reflection, Melani worked with Garden of the Gods Resort and Wellness Center to create fine art images for their rooms, casitas, and cottages reflecting that ethos. This project led to the publishing of her first photography book The Sacredness of Everything. Her next book on Cheyenne Caño———-n will be available in December of 2024.

Melani’s images are intimate portraits of the simple beauty which surrounds us daily. Turning tragedy into beauty, many of her recent pieces are taken in burn scar forests and printed on fine art photographic paper. She is a purist who works in black and white as well as color. Each print is archival matted, numbered and signed.

First Light on Daniels Pass Trail, Generously Donated by Melani Tutt, Melani Tutt, Photograph of dense forest scene with sunlight illuminating through the trees.
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