Karen Martinez - Department Director - is a 7th Generation Hispanic Chimayo Master Weaver, weaving for a period of 38 years and specializing in Rio Grande, Saltillo, and Vallero designs. She began her teaching career in John Hyson Elementary School, then with New Mexico Arts Division for an apprenticeship program to teach cultural techniques in Rio Grande style weaving, and is presently directing and teaching at Northern New Mexico College’s Fiber Arts Department. Her work is featured in books and magazines such as “Chimayo Weavers” by Lucero and Baizerman, “Across Frontiers” by Dexter, Su Casa Magazine, New Mexico Magazine, La Herencia, Vista Magazine and Cowboys and Indians Magazine. Her awards include:

• Utilitarian Award in reviving old techniques, 2001
• Grand Prize, Best of Show in Textiles - Spanish Market 1999
• Honorable Mention Award 1998
• 1st Place Award in excellence in weaving 1997
• Purchase Award by the Spanish Colonial Arts Society 1996
• 1St Place Award in excellence in weaving 1995
• Purchase Award from Colorado Springs Museum
• 1st Place Award at State Fair Exhibit
• Jake O. Trujillo Award in excellence in weaving 1994
• E. Boyd Award for originality and expressive design

Liesel Orend has a B.F.A. in modern dance. She was trained in weaving at Northern New Mexico Community College in El Rito, New Mexico, and has been weaving for six years. Her tapestries have won first place awards at the Albuquerque Fiber Arts Fiesta and at the Taos Wool Festival. In 2001, her tapestry entitled “Hunter Spiders” won a silver medallion grand prize at the Taos Wool Festival. In 2003, her piece entitled “Women from the North” received the same award in Taos, and was chosen to be a part of the “Spirit of the West” exhibit connected with Convergence 2004 in Denver, CO. www.earth-arts.com

Katy Blanchard has been knitting for over 40 years and spinning and designing one-of-a-kind hand knits for over 12 years. Her work was included in the book “Knitting in America” published in 1992. She has been working with natural dyes and growing dye plants for over 10 years and uses naturally dyed yarn exclusively in her fiber. One of her main interests is in multi-use herbs: herbs that are used medicinally as well as traditional dye materials. Growing multi-use plants on her farm is one of her priorities. www.urbaneagle.com

Cornelia Theimer Gardella has an Associate’s Degree in Fiber Arts from NNMC and a Master’s Degree in Literature and Art History from Friedrich-Schiller University in Jena, Germany. Cornelia weaves contemporary tapestries using hand-dyed wool. She has been an instructor at NNMC since 2006 and her classes include tapestry weaving and synthetic dyeing. www.corneliatheimer.com