October is Arts Month — a time to celebrate the rich history of artistic expression in the Pikes Peak region and to highlight the many wonderful people who have contributed to promoting the arts in our community. Perhaps no one is more deserving of recognition than the beloved Mary Mashburn, the “Fairy Godmother of the Arts”— who sprinkled joy and delight into our lives with her magic wand and lively personality. However, beneath the crown, gown, and glitter — Mary was a steel-willed force for good in our community. She was someone you simply couldn’t say no to.
Mary’s enthusiasm was infectious, her intellect keen, and her powers of persuasion were enviable. As the longtime executive director of the nonprofit Imagination Celebration, Mashburn worked tirelessly to promote arts, culture, and the power of connection throughout our region for decades before her death in 2023. Reflecting on her mother’s legacy, daughter Mary remarked, “She saw that the arts can break down so many barriers between people and can fire up people’s imaginations. She loved the idea of the arts being accessible to people and bringing them together.”
During Arts Month please be sure to visit the life-size likeness of Mary Mashburn in the Museum’s main lobby. We are extremely grateful to the members of the Mashburn Family who generously donated Mary’s magical costume – wand and all – so we could ensure that visitors young and not-so-young benefit from a sprinkle of Mary’s joy. Additionally, there is wonderful mural on the south side of the Mountain Chalet building, created by muralist and street artist Carlos Oliva that pays homage to Mary Mashburn, the “Fairy Godmother of the Arts,” who passed away in 2023.
For more information on the mural, please visit:
Leah Davis Witherow, Curator of History
719.385.5649 | Leah.Witherow@coloradosprings.gov