June 2024

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Greetings EVFAC Community, here’s JUNE! —

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Announcements

>> New GROUPS page on the website! Come join Spinning Adventures and Unfinished Fiber Objects

>> Call for FALL instructors! Fill out our Instructor Proposal Form or get in touch. We especially need rigid heddle loom weavers who teach kids! Contact: education@evfac.org

>> DONATION REQUEST: Portable Swamp Coolers and fans! We are in the process of updating our heating and cooling system and in the meantime need to cool the space. We could also use more folding tables for classes. Contact: director@nmfiberartscenter.org

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May’s Classes

In May we hosted several classes offered somewhat regularly: 4 Harness and Rio Grande weaving, as well as a Traditional Yoruba Adire Eleko and Tie-dye with Indigo class. 

In the beginning of May, the final offering of our Navajo class series happened with Kevin Aspaas’ Wedge Weave class.

It was a great group of talented weavers, twisting our brains around selvages and hearing stories of sheep, the clan system, Navajo trading post history, and the incredible innovations of Navajo weavers. This series offered a lot in regard to technique but just as importantly: exposure to the array of historical practices embedded in Navajo culture that all go into the weaving - lineage, sheep herding, plant gathering, spinning, dyeing, warping and wefting - all from master weavers themselves. We were very lucky to host these classes and are working to bring the teachers back for more offerings! 

Thank you to Lynda Pete, Tyrrell Tapaha, Roy Kady and Kevin Aspaas for coming to EVFAC and sharing your knowledge! Below are some current talks and programs these incredible weavers have out in the orbit right now:

Lynda Pete recently shared this talk: Learning from the Grandmothers: The 2023 Traditional Technologies Navajo Weaving Seminar. Kevin shares a bit about the wedge weave here too!

Tyrrell Tapaha was a recent guest on the podcast SEAMSIDE: Exploring the Inner Work of Textiles and gave this beautiful interview: How to Tend the Flock

Roy Kady was recently featured on NPR - Navajo weavers and herders come together to celebrate Churro sheep, a breed once believed to be extinct. He is also featured in the documentary A Gift From Talking God, celebrating the sacred Navajo-churro sheep - a must see if you’re interested in churro sheep.

Kevin Aspaas has been teaching a lot this summer, offering several workshops for Navajo youth! He’ll be a special guest in this one coming up soon in Canyon de Chelly:

At the Center

EVFAC’s Artist of the Month Series is back!

EVFAC is bringing back our Artist of the Month feature! The featured artist will have a dedicated space to display their body of work and will also receive a special commission rate on all sales during their month.

EVFAC is proud to highlight and promote our local artisans! If you'd like to be our next Artist of the Month email Debbie at retail@nmfiberartscenter.org for more information. Please include a short description/bio of your work and photos (active membership is required).

Meet this month’s artist - Suzie Fowler-Tutt!

Suzie Fowler-Tutt is a high desert folk artist; her work is comprised of a variety of mixed media genres to include weaving, painting, collage, home furnishings, clothing, and ceremonial pieces (smudge wands, prayer sticks, rattles, bells)

Whatever discipline she works in, Suzie focuses on the environment and upcycling, whether using recycled fiber, rummaging through trash, or foraging for materials in her desert surroundings

Her body of work can be found on Instagram @studio_ramaseca

EVFAC’s Summer Fiber Art Camp for Youth…

…just kicked off the first week! 10 campers, 10-15 years old experimented with Natural Dyeing and Screen printing! Next week, they’ll learn weaving, spinning and knitting in addition to continuing their dye projects.

We are so grateful to our generous private donors, partners and sponsors including United Way of Northern New Mexico, the Northern Youth Project, and Wild Leven Bakery for enabling us to offer this camp for free during the month of June! 

Around Town

Saturday, June 22, 2024

10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

St John’s Methodist Church, 12oo Old Pecos Trail Santa Fe, NM

Two of EVFAC’s members, Kathy Konecki and Theresa Holmes, are co-organizing a group fiber arts destash sale in Santa Fe on Saturday June 22 from 10-3 at the St John’s Methodist Church.

If you are interested in being a participating seller/vendor in this sale, please contact Theresa at SavjaSpiritShields@gmail.com as soon as possible.

Each vendor/participant will handle his/her own sales in whatever way they choose. The church does have wi-fi.  The cost per participant depends on the number participating.  There is room for 14 vendors.  We will share the room cost which is $175.  If we have 6 vendors, the cost per vendor would be $30; each additional vendor will lower the per vendor cost accordingly.  

Other than your entry fee there are no additional fees.  The 8 foot tables and chairs will be provided by the venue.

Please come to shop the sale even if you don’t plan to be a vendor. 

Let me know if you have any questions.

Kathy@necessarylittleluxuries.com