Fine Arts Center Launches Ambitious Reinstallation

The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College unveils “Gathering Place,” the most comprehensive reinstallation of its first-floor permanent collection galleries in nearly a decade. Opening to the public on September 6, 2025, this long-term exhibition offers a transformative new lens through which to explore the rich cultural and artistic legacies of the American Southwest and beyond.

At its heart, “Gathering Place” explores the idea of “place” as deeply personal, powerfully shared, and constantly evolving. Featuring a sweeping selection from the approximately 18,000-object permanent collection—including devotional art of the Southwest, modern and contemporary works, and historic and contemporary Indigenous art—the exhibition invites visitors to reflect on the complexities of history, identity, memory, and community.

“This exhibition marks a transformative chapter for the Fine Arts Center in how we present and engage with the permanent collection,” says Museum Director Michael Christiano. “‘Gathering Place’ demonstrates our commitment to collaborative curatorial and collection care practices and our belief that multiple voices create richer, more meaningful conversations. The permanent collection is an essential community resource that speaks to the vibrant creative practices and complex histories of our region. I’m grateful to all who have helped to shape the life of this project; they have fundamentally changed our approach to collection presentation.”

This major reinstallation was co-curated by a diverse team of guest curators:

• Cassandra Atencio, artist, elder, and member of the Southern Ute Tribe
• James M. Córdova, santero and Associate Professor of Art History, Latin American Art History at the University of Colorado Boulder
• Pat Musick, artist and educator
• Josh T. Franco, artist and art historian

Together, they bring fresh insight and historically marginalized voices to the forefront, spotlighting rarely seen works and introducing powerful new connections between art and place.

To further deepen audience engagement, “Gathering Place” marks the FAC’s debut on the Bloomberg Connects app—a free digital guide offering exclusive behind-the-scenes content, interviews, and accessibility features available to visitors on-site and remotely.

The exhibition runs through spring 2028 and will serve as an evolving and inclusive space for dialogue, reflection, and community connection. “Gathering Place” is supported by a grant from the Terra Foundation for American Art.