Marilyn Leuszler

During ten years in Japan, Marilyn Leuszler explored a vast number of Asian art forms and apprenticed with Masters in Brush Calligraphy, Sumi-e (black ink painting), and Japanese Silk Embroidery. Her work has shown in the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Art, Ginza and Yokohama galleries, local and national galleries in the U.S., and is in private and corporate collections in Asia, Europe, and in the U.S. She earned a National Certificate of Proficiency in Brush Calligraphy in Japan and has received numerous awards for her work. Returning to the US in 1998, Marilyn has been deeply involved in Trinidad’s move to include the arts in long-term economic development planning. She has served on local nonprofit boards, City boards and commissions, and the state-wide Arts for Colorado board. She was on the initial team to write and submit the application to become a Certified Colorado Creative District, awarded in 2013, and helped to lead planning and community support for the state’s demonstration project for the Space to Create project in Trinidad, announced in 2015 by then-Governor John Hickenlooper, and opening in 2022. Locally, Marilyn has served on a grant review committee for six years, selecting recipients for the Culebra Range Community Coalition environmental scholarships. At the state level, she was a member of numerous review panels for Colorado Creative Industries grants. She has led programs in collaboration with CU Boulder’s Office for Outreach and Community Engagement, including projects resulting in Jewish Studies panel presentations at Temple Aaron, and was a member of the 2022-2023 Art + Science + Action cohort. Marilyn was certified in the initial 2014 Colorado Change Leader Program, which has now issued almost 200 certificates to community leaders throughout the state. While formally retired from her role as Executive Director of Trinidad’s Creative District, Marilyn is still involved in her community in numerous ways. She thrives on connecting people with programs and opportunities.