Books

Contemporary

There have been blanket weavers in the town of Chimayó for generations, spinning, dyeing, and weaving in a tradition dating back to the valley's earliest Spanish settlers. The Centinela Weavers of Chimayó: Unfolding Tradition explores how weaving evolved from a winter necessity to a unique art form, eloquently expressing its origins in the villages of Northern New Mexico. The current generation of weavers at La Centinela in Chimayó, Irvin and Lisa Trujillo, share their firsthand experience and understanding of weaving within the tradition. The book is richly illustrated with examples of their contemporary artistry, as well as some of the textiles by weavers who came before.

“Like one of Northern New Mexico's tiny rivers, this book bears a significance that is out of proportion to its small size. At once an intimate family narrative and a concise overview of the history of weaving in Chimayo and Northern New Mexico, the book traces the deep roots of the Trujillo family business back to an important, centuries-old tradition and trade. The fine storytelling of oral history adds texture to this eloquent statement by one of the most energetic and creative weaving families in Chimayó.”
—DON J. USNER Author, Sabino's Map

“This lavishly illustrated and multifaceted book is fascinating! It includes an overview of seven generations of Hispanic weavers in the Trujillo family dating from the 1700s to the present. Through oral history accounts, the reader is given an insight into the hardships and joys of these industrious individuals who carved out a niche for themselves as commercial weavers in the transitional years of the early 20th century.”
—HELEN LUCERO Associate Curator, National Museum of American Art, Smithsonian Institution

“Having witnessed the renaissance of New Mexico Rio Grande weaving, as Curator of Textiles at the Museum of International Folk Art, I delight in the clear and sensitive telling of the Trujillo's part of the story. With an expansive, in-depth view of the Centinela Trujillo weavings, from historic background to first-person narrative by the weavers themselves, it is a lovely and important volume, and a generous contribution by Irvin and Lisa Trujillo.”
—NORA FISHER Editor, Rio Grande Textiles