Rio Grande Weaving by Irvin Trujillo - An illustrated talk

In the 17th century Spaniards brought with them to New Mexico thousands of churro sheep and a distinctive style of weaving. Wool blankets proved a vital necessity for settlers and a valuable commodity with traders. In time, the item woven in greatest demand among Hispanos was what came to be called the Rio Grande blanket, a masterpiece of textile art.

The Friends of History invite you to the New Mexico History Museums’ Auditorium for a live illustrated presentation by and conversation with Irvin L. Trujillo. The seventh-generation master weaver and award-winning textile artist will explore the history and styles of Rio Grande weaving, the Trujillo Family’s work in Chimayó, and the serious challenges this living heritage of New Mexico is confronting in the 21st century.

Introduced to weaving at age 10 by his father, Irvin Trujillo is acclaimed for combining flawless technique and respect for Hispanic history and culture with artistic innovation. He is a recipient of numerous accolades, including the 2015 New Mexico Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts for traditional Spanish Colonial weaving, focusing on natural dyes.

In 1980, Irvin and his wife Lisa founded their studio, Centinela Traditional Arts, allowing them to preserve traditional weaving styles and techniques, bring innovation to their work, and teach others in the Northern New Mexico community. They are now joined in the Chimayó studio by their daughter, Emily, an eight-generation weaver, artist and teacher.

New Mexico History & Heritage Lectures are open to all. Tickets are free for Friends of History members, $15 for the general public, and $10 for students.

Advance registration for this In-Person event is required. For details and tickets, go to:           https://tinyurl.com/3nseebzs