Weaver Shiri Klein. Courtesy photo

Weaver Shiri Klein. Courtesy photo

NNMC News:

Students of the Weaving and Fiber Arts Department of Northern New Mexico College will be exhibiting and selling their creations at the 35th annual Arts Festival, Studio Tour and Mercado May 20-21 in El Rito.

This annex to NNMC’s studio tour event is significant since it’s being held on campus in El Rito where the weaving program began in 1925 with one loom and 29 students.

Originally, the school was established by the New Mexico Territorial Legislature in 1909 as the Spanish American Normal School. The El Rito campus marks the site of the state’s oldest college. Northern New Mexico College’s El Rito campus is a place of rich local history and natural beauty.

Below are few brief quotes from current weaving students of Northern New Mexico College in Española taught by Heather Lynn Howard. They will all be exhibiting and selling at the El Rito Arts Festival, Studio Tour and Mercado May 20 and 21, 2023.

“My weaving career began about forty years ago. At the time I was living in Los Ojos, NM. I started weaving in the small church building of San Jose Church with a group of local women. With some of the original member owners we started the Tierra Wools Coop with the assistance of weaving instructor Rachel Brown from Taos, NM, Maria Varela, Antonio and Molly Manzanares, Ganados del Valle, and Gumercindo Salazar. We would arrive early in the morning to build a fire in the wood stove of the historic T D Burns Mercantile building in Los Ojos, NM. Many of the weavers of Tierra Wools were descendants of Spanish settlers in the Rio Grande Valley. We wove rugs, tapestries, blankets, ruanas, pillows, and many beautiful creations. I have been a student at Northern NM College in Espanola, NM for the last four years. We have an excellent instructor by the name of Heather Howard. As fellow weavers we have become good friends and I look forward to every class.” – Josie Ulibarri, josieulibarri10@gmail.com.

“I have been weaving for almost 20 years. I started taking classes at the El Rito Campus with master weaver Karen Martinez. I have entered several shows and have won both first and second ribbons for my weaving. I have been showing at Spanish Market for about five years. I have won two top awards; the Jake O. Trujillo and La Lana awards plus first and second ribbons in the traditional category. Currently I show my rugs and pillows at Pottery of the Southwest gallery.” – Yvonne Eberlacher, 505.901.7437.

“I am a retired teacher who has lived in the Espanola Valley for forty years. She appreciates all the wonderful people who have shared their knowledge of weaving with her. When she is not weaving she is writing and has published two novels.” – Joyce Trainor, 505.614.6822.

“I started my weaving studies 20 years ago. I am a retired Nurse and love the challenge of learning new weaving styles and techniques.” – Linda Hardy, lindahardy05@gmail.com.

“Jane began as a basketmaker in the 80’s and taught her artistic skills here at NNMC. She picked up weaving along with many other artistic talents in her creative life. She continues to weave and sell as a fine artist at local venues.” – Jane Kramer, 575.581.9137.

Weaver Josie Ulibarri. Courtesy photo

Rio Grande tapestry by Josie Ulibarri. Courtesy photo

Weaver Sandy Seely. Courtesy photo