Happy Shoppers with member Brenda Holzinger on far right.by Annette Rubino-Buckley
The art scene shines again in Silver City, October 7 and 8, 2023 with the Silver City Art Association’s Weekend at the Galleries. As participating members of the Association, the Southwest Women's Fiber Arts Collective (SWFAC) will be showing off the talents of their members at their annual Fiber Arts Sale. The event will be held at the elegant Murray Hotel ballroom, located at 200 W. Broadway in downtown Silver City. The hours are Saturday, October 7 from 10 am to 7 pm, and Sunday, October 8 from 10 am to 2 pm. The ballroom provides plenty of room to stroll and shop and will be filled corner to corner with hand-crafted items that promise to be unique and delightful.
Here is a glimpse of what you can look forward to discovering at the sale: Quilted place mats and table runners that will make your meals more enjoyable. Up-cycled fashions and accessories that are truly one-of-a-kind. Colorful tie-dyed and painted silk clothing that are right at home in our artsy town. Dress up your home décor with a batik lampshade or woven rug. Artisan mittens, knit hats and woven scarves to keep you warm during high desert winter months. Beaded felt pins, soft sculpture and stunning fabric and leather hand bags.
The non-profit, Weaving for Justice will be selling textiles from collectives in Chiapas, Mexico. Last year, I purchased a beautifully embroidered tortilla warmer that keeps a stack of corn tortillas soft.
There will be so many more treasures for sale. Each item is lovingly made by a person and it is apparent by the care and attention to detail.
I am a member and I know how dedicated my friends in this amazing group of artists are. Once a month we have a “show-and-tell” and I am always impressed and inspired by their creativity. Even though there are multiple weavers and clothing re-designers participating in the sale, their individual talents and personalities make their craft distinctive.
There will be a reception and various fiber art demonstrations on Saturday, October 7, 2023 from 4 pm to 5:30 pm. You will be able to watch the artisans and learn their techniques while they work on their craft. There will educational displays in our welcome booth that also explain many of the fiber arts.
Our good friend Beverly Bean, will be selling her delicious pastries, snacks and beverages in the lobby. They are sure to fuel you through a day of gallery hopping.
It's enjoyable to visit the participating galleries and shops during Weekend at the Galleries. Many of the galleries have special exhibits and you can talk with the artists. There's a good selection of coffee shops and eateries within the historic downtown area when you are ready to take a break and relax.
Lets skip winter and jump ahead to spring. On April 6, 2024, SWFAC will be showing off the designs of its members at the annual Tapestry of Talent fashion show at the Silco Theater. This is an exciting event and tickets sell out quickly.
An item made by the heart and hands of an artisan is special and should be treasured. It is the only item like that … anywhere.
SWFAC was founded in 2005 and is a local, all volunteer, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with the goal to stimulate and support successful cottage industry in the southwest. To accomplish this, SWFAC members nurture and empower one another. Both novice and skilled SWFAC artists enrich the community by fostering opportunities to gain new experience and expand talent as well as earn income from their art. We always welcome new members to our fiber diverse group of women. Please visit SWFAC’s website at www.fiberartscollective.org to learn more about the organization and to become a member.