A home to call their own

Posted: Nov 26, 2011 5:30 PM by Dr. Anya Winslow
Updated: Nov 26, 2011 3:09 PM

Student and performer C.C. Wells remembers when her mom, Linda Weise, founder of the Colorado Springs Conservatory, used their basement as one of the locations for the conservatory.

Now, after seventeen years, it finally has a home to call its own.

Wells says, "It's very creative and very welcoming and it's a big home."

In fact, it's comprised of four floors amounting to 18,000 square feet of space; all begging for students to create music, act, and have fun learning.

"To come in and see all these colors, you can actually make music. You can feel like you're not being contained. So, that's...it's pretty awesome," adds Wells.

The building originally housed a prosecutor's office. Now, every room has its own personality and identity. From a room plastered with records on the walls to another filled with guitars...even the hallways are adorned with murals. The artist responsible for the murals -- Wells herself.

"They gave me a bucket of black paint and I went nuts," says Wells smiling. She found inspiration for her painting from the many students who study or have studied at the conservatory.

As for her plan to add to the twenty-five murals she says, "I personally want to keep going. People might get a little overwhelmed, but it's always fun seeing people walking and, oops, there's another one. So, it's fun to just keep doodlin'."

Everywhere you look, the building sparkles with the magic of imagination and creativity.

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On Monday, the school will have its grand opening ceremony. Mayor Back will be hosting the celebration. It's free and open to the public and it starts at 4 pm and runs until 5:30 pm. Refreshments and music will follow the ribbon cutting ceremony.

Click here to learn more about the Colorado Springs Conservatory.