Albuquerque- 7th Biennial Fiber Arts Fiesta preps for thousands of visitors
Fiber Arts Fiesta: Fine art all around
3-day Memorial Weekend event at Expo New Mexico
Examples of Lace from the Lace Museum of Sunnyvale, Ca., will be on exhibit. (Photo courtesy Fiber Arts Fiesta)
Albuquerque – Memorial Day Weekend is still a ways off – but mark your calendar now for the 7th biennial Fiber Arts Fiesta, May 21 – 23. It doesn’t happen every year, in fact, it takes two years to plan and coordinate everything that happens during the three day event. The event has grown each time and organizers expect this year’s event to attract some 600 participants.
Classes have been added to this year’s fiesta. You can learn anything from quilting, weaving and machine knitting to making bracelets, mixed-media postcards ad hand embroidered bookmarks or nametags. Sign up early to ensure your seat in these great classes. Or, just enjoy the educational exhibit: “Feel the Fiber!” with hands-on displays and ongoing demonstrations by the participating guilds whose members will show you just how they make those fabulous creations.
The event has grown so much that they have moved to the bigger venue at Expo, the Manual Lujan Complex. “This move allows us much more room for the juried exhibits, more vendor booth space, a larger stage area for daily fashion shows and demonstrations and, finally, a dedicated room for classes!,” says Leslie Berky Ashcraft, 2009 Albuquerque Fiber Arts Council President.
The fiber art is the story, of course, and if you have never attended this fabulous event, you are definitely in for a treat. It’s hard to imagine all varieties of art that fall under the title “Fiber Art”: The home arts one traditional thinks of such as crocheting, knitting, embroidery; plus weaving, and spinning; doll making, sewing and quilting. Then there’s smocking and related needlework, bead work, quilt rugs and the exquisite silk painting. All these guilds are represented at the Fiesta – what a party!
The Fiesta will also be hosting a very special exhibit, 'Flora', a lace exhibition from the Lace Museum in Sunnyvale, California.
And how about lace making? The Fiesta will also be hosting a very special exhibit, “Flora”, a lace exhibition from the Lace Museum in Sunnyvale, California. A curator from the Lace Museum will be on site to answer questions and provide further background on the rich history of lace making in all of its forms. “We are very pleased to provide this opportunity to examine the beautiful and delicate art form of lace,” says Ashcroft.
Back by popular demand will be 3 fashion shows in a larger stage area with more seating. Thursday’s show will be “Beaches to Boardrooms” (casual to business attire), Friday’s “Classic Beauty” (formal and bridal attire) and Saturday’s “That’s Right Off the Wall!” (wearable art, costumes and anything outrageous).
“If you have ever shopped the Fiesta Vendor Mall, you already know that you are in for a treat! The 2009 Fiesta has 55 vendors under contract, some returning and some brand new! We are very excited about the great variety of products, raw materials and fiber art disciplines that will be represented and feel sure that the public will be wowed by the selection!,” Ashcroft says. (For a complete listing of 2009 vendors and their products, please visit www.fiberartsfiesta.org.)
The Fiesta takes place over the Memorial Day weekend, May 21, 22 & 23 in the Manual Lujan Complex at the Expo New Mexico, Copper and San Pedro NE (formerly the New Mexico State Fairgrounds). The times are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is $5 with children 12 and under free. (Expo NM parking fees will apply). Plan to spend the entire day, as you will need it to take in the exhibits, classes, demos and the vendor mall! No need to leave for lunch as a food court will be available in the adjacent patio area with live music provided for your dining pleasure!
The 7th biennial Albuquerque Fiber Arts Fiesta is the major fundraiser for the Albuquerque Fiber Arts Council, Inc., (AFAC) a non-profit organization dedicated to fiber arts education and to the display of fiber-related artwork.
Habitat for Humanity to benefit from special event
The Albuquerque Fiber Arts Fiesta has traditionally featured a special event that promotes a worthy non-profit cause or organization. The 2009 Fiesta has selected the Greater Albuquerque Habitat for Humanity to be the recipient of all the proceeds generated by our special event, “An Old Fashioned Christmas”. The Fiesta will be collecting hand-made ornaments and small accompanying donations to decorate up to 3 large Christmas trees. The trees will be on display for the duration of the Fiesta with raffle tickets being sold on site. Raffle winners will each take a tree, all of its ornaments and a specially prepared catalogue describing every ornament, including its maker, place of origin and creation technique. All donation and raffle monies will go directly to Habitat for Humanity. Donation of an ornament is open to everyone and we hope to see a huge response from across the country in support or this worthy cause.
AFAC is also sponsoring a grant received from the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, titled 'New Mexico’s Historic Textiles: Documentation, Preservation, and Education'.
In addition to sponsoring the Fiesta, the AFAC is currently sponsoring a grant received from the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, titled “New Mexico’s Historic Textiles: Documentation, Preservation, and Education”. The long-term goal of this project is to curate a historic textile exhibition during the centennial celebration of New Mexico and in so doing, educate the public about the value and need to preserve our state’s fiber artifacts. The current grant funding covers the first phase of this endeavor, the search for New Mexico’s textiles, in particular those that were created during the era of New Mexico’s statehood in 1912.
Selection of textiles for documentation is being limited to the years 1902-1922, 10 years on either side of statehood. This is the perfect opportunity to assure the preservation of these valuable textiles and to ensure their proper place in the historical record of New Mexico’s statehood. (For more information about this project, contact Donna at (505)771-0018 or Colleen (505)892-5673 or email CentennialTextilesearch@ yahoo.com.) The AFAC also publishes the bi-monthly Fiber Arts Newsletter (FAN), which offers feature articles of concern to the local fiber art scene as well as a large calendar of events, classes, exhibitions and opportunities available around New Mexico and beyond.
Anyone interested in subscribing may send a check for $8 (a one year subscription) to: Albuquerque Fiber Arts Council, PO Box 16443, Albuquerque, NM 87191-6443. For more information about the Fiesta and its co-sponsoring guilds, the Albuquerque Fiber Arts Council or the Fiber Arts Newsletter: visit www.fiberartsfiesta.org
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This quilt by Betty Busby is a fine example of the multitude of fine work you’ll see at the Fiber Art Fiesta in Albuquerque May 21-23.
This fanciful necklace by Cindy Caraway is another fine example of the art you’ll see at the Fiber Art Fiesta.
Albuquerque, NM: The quilt by Betty Busby (above) and this fanciful necklace by Cindy Caraway (right) are just two examples of the multitude of fine work you’ll see at the Albuquerque Fiber Art Fiesta May 21-23. There’ll be fashion shows and artists showing how they create their works of art.
You can even learn how to make some fabulous creations. It only happens every other year so you don’t want to miss it!
There are absolutely no limits to the beautiful works created by New Mexico's fiber artists. Don't miss this remarkable show!
__________________
Be sure to say you found them in Steppin' Out. That ALWAYS makes our supporters smile. Remember, they're the ones who make this site possible!
Web Witchcraft Publishing - We design and build the world's most powerful websites. Quality is our standard... Perfection is our goal!
Albuquerque- 7th Biennial Fiber Arts Fiesta preps for thousands of visitors
You can even learn how to make some fabulous creations. It only happens every other year so you don’t want to miss it!
www.fiberartsfiesta.org
Be sure to say you found them in Steppin' Out. That ALWAYS makes our supporters smile. Remember, they're the ones who make this site possible!
Web Witchcraft Publishing - We design and build the world's most powerful websites. Quality is our standard... Perfection is our goal!