San Luis Valley Folk Arts and Fiber Festival Spins Merriment

Over forty-five artists and vendors from Southwest to Demonstrate/retail in local event

Monte Vista, CO -- The third annual San Luis Valley Folk Arts and Fiber Festival, aka the SLV Fest, unspools its third year in the park with a day of workshops in Marsh Park and a launch party at Monte Vista Information Center in the evening. The festivities return to Marsh Park for two days of food, arts, crafts, demonstrations, retail, music and contests—including the crowd-pleasing favorite--wool-spinning races. The SLV Fest is a celebration of the handmade and traditional arts.

In addition to the ongoing attractions, the SLV Fest, in partnership with the Alamosa Live Music Association, is proud to host the Kailin Yong Peace Project with Andy Skellenger Concert, 2:30-4p.m. under the big tent. Yong is a world-class fiddler whose music “is rooted in his exploration of the cultures of the world, bringing charming melodies from many lands home to share.” Yong is from Boulder, Colorado and Skellenger, is from Crestone. Admission is Free.

The un-official start of the SLV Fest began June 26th with the exhibit, “Four Seasons” by the International Freeform Fiber Arts Guild at the Monte Vista Information Center. “Four Seasons” is an exhibit that emphasizes the artistic over the functional possibilities of knitting and crocheting. The local exhibit hosts 12 of the 52 international artists that make up the original exhibit. A book of the full exhibit is available online. All proceeds from the sales benefit The Global Fund for Women. “Four Seasons” is available for viewing M-F through July 10.

Vendors for the festival, all of which were selected by a jury, include glass, metal, wood, leatherworkers, jewelers, ceramicists, beaders, weavers and other fiber artists and suppliers from throughout Colorado and New Mexico.

Admission to the launch party and festival is free; workshops require pre-registration and tuition.

Date: July 10 to 12, 2009

The schedule for the 2009 San Luis Valley Folk Arts and Fiber Festival is:

Friday, July 10:
-- Workshops at Marsh Park
-- Coptic Bookbinding with Recycled Materials
-- Inspired Spinning and Plying Techniques
-- Fusing Dichroic Glass,
-- Hanging By a Thread--Doll Art
-- Freeform Knitting and Crochet
-- Yarn & Fiber Dyeing, Basic Knitting Classes
-- Knitting Hobby Horses
-- Launch Party & Closing reception for the exhibit “Four Seasons”

Monte Vista Information Center from 6-8p.m. An evening of socializing and handwork; announcement of the People's Choice Award and drawing for prize amongst the voters at 7:30PM.

Saturday, July 11:
-- Vendors and food from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
-- Children’s activities

- Children's Knitting Classes (registration required)
- Ceramic Paint and Take
- Face Painting
- Children’s balloon races 12:30PM
- Coloring contest, all day

-- Hand Dyed Roving contest
-- Demonstrations on the hour and half hour from 10:30-6PM.

- 10:30am -Sheila Smith, Crazy Woman Ranch: Carding Fiber
- 11:00am -Laura Murphy, Wildethyme Art: Locker Hooking
- 11:30am - Christina Cooper, Crazy Monkey: Wheel Spinning
- 12:00pm - Sheila Smith, Crazy Woman Ranch: Shearing
- 1:00pm - Chris Reardon, Brandywine Woodworking: Drop Spindling
- 1:30pm - Aleina Gerstenberger, Bluecat Beads: Lampworking
- 2:00pm - Laura Murphy, Wildethyme Art: Freeform Knitting and Crochet
- 4:30pm - Crys Mascarenas, Polyartgirl Inspirations: Hand Combing Fiber
- 5:00pm - Linda Pacheco-Demski, Decidedly Different Clay Art: Paperclay
- 5:30pm - Christie Perry, The Arts of Healing: Novelty Spinning

Sunday July 12:
-- Vendors and food from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
-- Children’s activities

- Ceramic Paint and Take
- Face Painting

-- An arts and crafts swap meet, 11a.m.-3p.m.
-- A series of fiber arts contests and trails, with prizes, for knitting and spinning starting at 11a.m.
-- A drawing for a Wee Peggy spinning wheel at 1PM. Tickets, available at the festival or in advance at http://www.slvfest.com/rafflewheel, are $4 each of four for $15.

For more information about the SLV Folk and Fiber Arts Festival or to register for a workshop, go to www.slvfest.com or call 719-850-0114.