Chimayo is the style that Irvin and Lisa learned first, before learning to weave the older parts of the tradition. There is a logic and a mindset that is central to weaving the Chimayo style. And there’s all of that going back and forth between shuttle weaving and tapestry weaving. It may be the first…
A part of the Rio Grande weaving tradition that goes back to Spanish Colonial times is called jerga. Historically, jerga was woven as a utilitarian fabric, used as a tarp, or carrier, or for wrapping things up. It was strictly a wool textile. Someone with wealth might demonstrate that by putting jerga down as a…
The five thousand or so churro sheep that came to New Mexico with Coronado’s expedtion in 1540 were too valued as food to these original settlers to survive and become established flocks in the new territories. New Mexico proved to be a hospitable place for churro, and the sheep thrived to become an important part…
I really have no idea how many of these postcards were printed up with this loom during the mid twentieth century but it must be a lot, because there seem to be a lot of them still around after all these years. I have seen them around, mostly in antique stores and the like…
This is from an interview done with Irvin. The interviewer gave Irvin the chance to correct and add to the original interview. Irvin: “I started when I was 10 years old. My dad showed me how to carry a design. He didn’t draw pictures. He didn’t have sketches when he did his weaving, and he didn’t take…
UNFOLDING TRADITION 