About Us

Carrie MaKenna is a fourth generation Denver native. She's been a working artist in the metro area for more than thirty years. 

"I make artwork to remind people of their inter-connection with each other, nature and the universe."

I have a BFA with concentrations in graphic design, marketing communications and painting from Colorado State University, and a Masters 

in Counseling Psychology
and Art Therapy from 

The Naropa University.
In addition, I have a host
of trainings and certificates
in management, marketing, communications, 

conflict resolution,
train-the-trainer and other business activities.

My business career includes 10 years as the marketing communications manager at a national financial services corporation, 20 years as an independent wedding officiant, concurrent with 15 years as owner of Arts Carrie MaKenna Studio & Gallery.

I'm a co-founder and recent past co-director of D'art Gallery in the heart of the
Arts District on Santa Fe
in Denver.

Now I'm bringing my experience and expertise to the development and operation of the Colorado Women's Art Museum, while continuing with my life-long art practice.

Brian Bostron is a native of Brush Colorado. 

Seasoned forensic accountant specializing in fraud cases, owner of interior design firm and art deco antique dealer.  Art gallery employee.

Former board member of Colorado Mental Health Network, longtime fundraiser for Colorado Ballet, President of Young Democrats of Colorado State University and Phi Beta Lambda.

Interests:  Architecture, interior design, antique Judaica and politics.  Mental health advocate.community that values creativity and artistic expression.

Education: B.S., Business Administration (Finance and Real Estate), Colorado State University.

Rebecca Gabriel and her husband moved to Colorado permanently in 2019, after visiting Colorado with her family for over twenty years.

She has a Master of Fine Arts degree in Painting from the University of Massachusetts, where she was awarded a University Fellowship in Art. She also holds a Master of Science degree in Art Education degree from the Massachusetts College of Art, in Boston.

Gabriel is a GOLD LIST AWARD ARTIST  for Art Market International Magazine, where her work has been promoted in multiple issues. Gabriel’s art has also been featured in Calyx, Studio Visit, American Artwork, and World of Art MOMA publications.

Her work was shown at the Florence Biennale Xll, in Italy, and she has exhibited at the Schneider Museum of Art, Ashland, OR; Denver Art Museum, CO; De Cordova Museum, MA; Oakland Museum, CA; Herbert F. Johnson Museum, Cornell University NY, Arvada Art Center CO, The Dairy Art Center CO. Gabriel’s art
was on extended loan in
the Executive Chairman’s Office, at the National Endowment for the Arts in
Washington, D.C. 

Her art has received numerous awards: First Award, Henry Hopkins,
“All California Art Exhibition”; Finalist in Artist’s Magazine; and Jurors Choice award in the “Human Form” exhibit, Newport Visual Art Center, OR; and she has received
a Haines Foundation Grant,
in Southern Oregon.

Gabriel served on the
board for the Ashland Art Center in Oregon.

Her work is presented in two books on her art: “Woman’s Journey – A Life in Painting” and her recent release “Appearances-Experimental Portraiture” both published by Wellstone Press.

 Deborah Deal-Blackwell, APR is a businesswoman with diverse experience.

After college, she started her career at the NBC network affiliate WESH-TV in Orlando, Florida. From there she went on to work for several advertising / public relations agencies, including her own.

While active in her community on numerous boards of directors she specialized in commercial and residential real estate, and the travel/hotel industry. 

Her career took a nonprofit turn when she became president/executive director of Angel Flight Southeast. At AFSE she tripled the revenue for this 501(c)(3), oversaw 1,293 volunteer pilots and chapters in the southeast United States. 

Commercialization of technical innovations became her next passion when she teamed with her brother John (Grizz) Deal and created several companies that are spinouts from the U.S. National Laboratory system including one for nuclear power. Deborah was the first to bring the concept of a commercial small, modular, nuclear power reactor (SMR) before the U.S. Congress and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for regulation. 

Today, she is still a partner at IX Power with her brother, where they are bringing water treatment innovations to the industries of oil & gas, mining, manufacturing, and environmental clean-up.

Deborah is a mixed-media and textile artist, and is the president of the Women’s Caucus for Art Colorado Chapter for 2024 and 2025. 

Included in her wide experience with nonprofits, she served as a trustee of the Jefferson County Library system, and currently is the vice president of the Jefferson County Library Foundation. 

She is also the founder of the fundraiser Colorado Women’s Day, which held its ninth consecutive annual event 

in 2024.