About New Mexico Arts Trails
ARTISTS NEED OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE A living at home. This is the simple answer to “Why the New Mexico Fiber Arts Trails?” The arts trails evolved from New Mexico Arts’ leadership in nurturing arts entrepreneurship. We believe arts-based economic development is vital to a sustainable future for our state’s rural communities.
Our inspiration was the resounding success of HandMade in America’s western North Carolina Craft Heritage Trails and its visionary founder Becky Anderson. She jumpstarted our gathering of rural cultural tourism advocates in August 2005. Participating fiber artists wove a tale that called out for fiber arts trails. The New Mexico Fiber Artisans coalition born at that meeting became invaluable trail planning partners. A grassroots campaign resulted in Governor Bill Richardson and the New Mexico Legislature funding New Mexico Arts to create statewide arts trails – the first of hopefully a series. We have many to thank.
Why fiber arts? Universal, they also are local, democratic and accessible. They encompass age-old traditions and cutting edge advances. No matter the artistic form, they require structure but demand innovation and freedom, often of both artist and admirer. Why trails? Creativity flourishes on the back roads, for both artists and travelers. The trails celebrate New Mexico’s diverse communities, lifestyles, and landscapes. The trails traverse an integrated cycle - from raw materials through a medley of techniques and creative processes to hand-crafted works of art – and heart.
Enjoy! Trails sites have participated in an application process and are ready for company, in three regions: North Central, Northwest and South. The work of more than 200 New Mexico fiber artists awaits you at 71 destinations along the trails. We invite you to support creativity at its source. Welcome to the rich textures of New Mexico fiber!
Loie Fecteau
Executive Director, New Mexico Arts
Carol Cooper
Project Manager, New Mexico Arts
New Mexico Arts, Bataan Memorial Building
407 Galisteo Street, Suite 270, Santa Fe, NM 87501
MAILING: New Mexico Arts, PO Box 1450, Santa Fe, NM 87504-1450
1-800-879-4278 In-state | 505-827-6490