Textiles and other crafts produced by settlers in colonial New Mexico had their origins in Spain but quickly developed into distinctive local styles influenced by new needs, available materials, and exposure to the traditions of local Native communities. This blending of materials, techniques, and styles within Spanish households gave rise to a unique industry now known as the “Rio Grande” textile tradition.
For early Spanish settlers, prized possessions often included legacy items that were brought from, handed down within, or imported through Mexico or Spain. As communities became more established, their descendants began to create and value their own regional forms of expression, producing objects of both beauty and necessity.
This exhibition was part of the Center of Southwest Studies’ 50th anniversary programming, celebrating half a century of scholarship, service, and preservation of the greater Southwest. A public reception accompanied the exhibition and featured gypsy-jazz music performed by The Durangotones. Textile expert and Toadlena Trading Post owner Mark Winter also presented a gallery talk on Rio Grande blankets.