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Special Event
Event
Lecture Series: Willow Weaving Workshop
This event has already occurred. This page is provided for reference only.
Fee:
The cost of the workshop is $80 per person. Payment will be made directly to Andrew Harvier, and can be done in three ways: 1) By telephone using a credit card, totalling $83 ($3 handling and processing fee). (505) 470-7326 2) By mail, sending an $80 money order (NO CHECKS PLEASE!) to: Andrew Harvier 431 Lone Hill Road Espanola, NM 87532 3. By cash or credit card on the day of the workshop at Aztec Ruins.Dates & Times
Date:
Saturday, October 1, 2022
Time:
10:00 AM
Duration:
5 hours
Type of Event
Talk
Description
On Saturday, October 1st, from 10:00am – 3:00pm, Aztec Ruins will host a Willow Weaving Workshop.
Andrew Harvier, from the Northern NM Indigenous Pueblos of Santa Clara and Taos, and Tohono O’odham (Papago) Indian Nation, AZ, will provide instruction and offer participants a brief history of willow basket weaving and basic knowledge traditional willow style weaving. Participants will be provided with adequate willow materials to complete a 5” to 6” woven platter/plaque, or a 4” to 6” woven turtle which they will take home.
This is an easy-to-moderate, 5-hour workshop with a short lunch break. Participants should provide their own lunch, snacks and beverages. The workshop will be held outside, in the Aztec Ruins National Monument picnic area, weather permitting, otherwise it will be moved indoors.
Participants are not required to possess any special art skills, but should come with the desire to learn and participate, and above all – have fun!
The cost of the workshop is $80.00 per person, which includes materials, use of tools, and instruction. The workshop is limited to 15 participants, ages 12 years and older.
Please call the Aztec Ruins Visitor Center at (505) 334-6174 to reserve your space in the workshop.
Andrew Harvier is an artist of Taos, Santa Clara Pueblo, and Tohono O’odham Nation ancestry. Exceptionally skilled in traditional Northern New Mexico Pueblo basketry, pottery and jewelry, Andrew has been a full-time artist for over 48 years. He learned to make red willow baskets in 1973, and his first baskets were inspired by the old Pueblo style from the 1880-1930 era. Since then, his creations have evolved into his own style which he calls “Northern Rio Grande Basketry.”
Each basket is made of red willow grown and harvested along the Rio Grande River and throughout the region. Willow is gathered during various times of the year for color contrast, then sorted and woven into traditional baskets like those used ca. 1800-1900. Depending on size, a basket can incorporate anywhere from 300 to 1,200 individual willow shoots (branches). Colors range from light buff tans, greens, and golden browns to deep plum red – using all of the red willow genera. The white tones are achieved by using a pen knife and various pliers for peeling or skinning the shoots to make his unique baskets.
Andrew developed his own version of animal and human figurines using the red willow. These were inspired by ancient versions found in New Mexico and Colorado: at Puye Cliffs on Santa Clara Pueblo land, along the Rio Grande, in Chaco Canyon and Mesa Verde. Andrew fashions red willow rods, or withes, with sinew and on occasion leather, into various shapes to make his version of dream catchers that he calls “dream weaves.”
Andrew demonstrates, lectures, and markets basket weaving skills with people across the country. He and his wife Judith have been regular guests at Aztec Ruins' annual American Indian Cultural Arts Festival.
This event is made possible by assistance from the Chaco Culture Conservancy (CCC). The Conservancy is a New Mexico nonprofit 501©(3) corporation created to assist and support Aztec Ruins National Monument and Chaco Culture National Historical Park.
Reservation or Registration: Yes
The workshop is limited to 15 participants, and all participants must be 12 years of age or older. Please call the Aztec Ruins Visitor Center at (505) 334-6174 to reserve your spot.
Image Gallery
Photo courtesy of Andrew and Judith Harvier