New Mexico Fiber Arts Center. . . in Santa Fe!

Before I get to the main story today I want to let you know about a fun fiber event happening this weekend in Santa Fe.  Hop on over to the annual Fall Fiber Fiesta, Nov. 22-24, at the Scottish Rite Temple, 463 Paseo de Peralta in Santa Fe, 9-5.  It's a bonanza of hand-crafted fiber art and gifts--handwovens, hand-knitted, crocheted, spun, felted, and quilted items.  The event is free to the public.  The Artists' Reception 5-8 Friday night features live music, refreshments and a silent auction for a $10 charge.  I'm not exhibiting this year but I'm planning on doing some serious holiday gift shopping.

This event is sponsored by a mainstay of the New Mexico fiber arts world:  the Española Valley Fiber Arts Center (EVFAC).  EVFAC has offered classes, a shop full of tempting fiber, tools, and books, and sponsored fiber art exhibits and sales for over twenty years.  It is truly the hub of the fiber arts in Northern New Mexico.

Now EVFAC is expanding with an exciting new presence in Santa Fe.  The former Amores Yarns is now the New Mexico Fiber Arts Center, located at 328 S. Guadelupe Street in the Railyard district, home to many contemporary arts venues.  The Center will spotlight the work of a handful of artists periodically.  I am thrilled to report that my work is keeping company there with the amazing work of  tapestry artist Mary Cost through late January.  (And we have each sold a piece already!  Yay!)

Mary Cost's tapestries hang above a luscious assortment of yarns, some hand-dyed locally.

Store buyer/manager Leslie Zwail offers a warm welcome and deep knowledge of the artwork, yarns, and vintage textiles on offer.   Those are my pieces Mater Dolorosa, Red Letter Day, and Mary (Yes) on the wall. 

These pieces in my Fences series are available.  From top:  Barbed,  Falling, and Bruised.
I just finished Barbed this week.

Barbed.  That's actual barbed wire.  

The first Fence piece, Gate, has sold.  

The third artist featured at the moment is actually a collector, Diane Hanson.  Her treasure trove of rare vintage and folk textiles is available for purchase through New Mexico Fiber Arts Center for a limited time.  I unfolded and petted most of the pieces in this gorgeous collection when I was there for the opening.  Still mulling over what I can bring home with me. . . .

A few of the gorgeous indigo batik textiles available.

Handwoven linens

The Center also offers gorgeous handmade wearable art by local artists including Cynthia Boudreau (nuno felted work) and Julia Stephens (eco-printed suede and leather totes).

Shawl by Cynthia Boudreau

Felted coat and beret by Cynthia Boudreau

Eco-printed leather/suede tote by Julia Stephens

Concurrent with EVFAC's Santa Fe satellite is that the Española location is rededicating itself to serving the local community, with new programming for school children and people with disabilities. A full roster of events is available here. 

If you are planning to be in Santa Fe, be sure to add New Mexico Fiber Arts Center to your must-do list.

Tapestry in New Mexico

Last weekend I had the good luck to be in Santa Fe during the first New Mexico Fiber Crawl.  While there were way too many sites, scattered all across the state, for me to visit in my limited time, I did get to visit the hub of the "Santa Fe Thread", a show sponsored by Las Tejedoras Fiber Arts Guild and held at El Museo Cultural De Santa Fe.  I was delighted to see a number of fine tapestries and other weavings and wanted to share them with you here.

I'll limit my commentary just to point out how many of these artists are captivated by effects of light and dark.  A natural consequence of living in New Mexico, I am sure!

Mary Cost, Skyscape.  wool, cotton 

I could look at the light and shadows in Mary Cost's piece for a long time. 

Donna Loraine Conrtractor, Koch Snowflake Fractal. wool, cotton. 

detail, Donna Loraine Contractor, Koch Snowflake Fractal. wool, cotton.

I got to see more of Donna Contractor's work at the Tapestry Gallery in Madrid, NM, just down the road from Santa Fe.  It was a pleasure to see her work in person after following it online.  I am curious to see where her new series based on fractals takes her.

Kathy Perkins, Summer Solstice in Cochineal.  wool, cotton 

I enjoyed seeing how Kathy Perkins used weft blending, hatching, and varied diamond shapes to make a lively surface.

detail, Kathy Perkins, Summer Solstice in Cochineal.  wool, cotton

Letty Roller, Iris I-IV. wool, rayon, polyester

detail, Letty Roller, Iris I-IV. wool, rayon, polyester

I love how these lushly detailed, gorgeous flowers contrast with solid gold backgrounds.  These are floral icons.

LaDonna Mayer, Orchidaceae.  wool, cotton

Speaking of icons, I thought the presentation of these pieces was interesting.  Both were mounted on deep frames, at least 2-1/2" deep, with black painted edges.  These tapestries had high-relief presence.

Jennifer Moore, Rhapsody in Red and Blue:  Triptych. silk, bamboo

detail, Jennifer Moore, Rhapsody in Red and Blue:  Triptych. silk, bamboo

Jennifer Moore's weaving wizardry is simply astounding.

Elizabeth Buckley, Ocean Memory.  wool, silk, cotton

detail, Elizabeth Buckley, Ocean Memory.  wool, silk, cotton

I really enjoyed exploring Buckley's use of various tapestry techniques to create value and color gradations, and of course her signature transparency and flowing, sinuous lines.  And I marveled at her exquisite technique in this tiny piece, so flat and perfectly finished. (Apologies for the shadow in the photo--unavoidable.)

Elizabeth Buckley, Mesa Moonrise.  wool, cotton

Lisa Trujillo, Always Greener.  Wool.

A cursory glance this may suggest this is a fairly traditional take on a Chimayo-style rug.  But look again--there are human figures, in enigmatic postures, scattered throughout.  I wonder what the two figures at the top are up to?

detail, Lisa Trujillo, Always Greener.  Wool.

detail, Lisa Trujillo, Always Greener.  Wool.

Finally, this piece reminds me how I first fell in love with New Mexico--by gazing on this mesa.

Sarah Warren, Sunset over Pedernal. wool, cotton

This detail shows the subtle gradation of color and the use of soumak to define the landscape.  The strong horizontal format is perfect for this subject.

detail, Sarah Warren, Sunset over Pedernal. wool, cotton

I hope you've enjoyed this quick tour as much as I did.