About Us
The Española Valley Fiber Arts Center is a unique resource for fiber artists and those who find beauty in the fiber arts. Visitors to the adobe storefront in the historic district of Española enter a world of looms, colorful yarns, beautiful handmade textiles, books, and supplies. Come visit for all things fiber.
Mission
Cultivate and support multi-generational participation in local, traditional and contemporary Fiber Arts.
Vision
The hub of a thriving and respected Fiber Arts community.
Guiding Values
Fiber Artists and their Work – The The Española Valley Fiber Arts Center supports the creativity of artists who work with fiber and their unique handmade creations.
Textile Heritage – The The Española Valley Fiber Arts Center fosters and builds upon Fiber Arts traditions practiced in New Mexico.
Inclusion – The The Española Valley Fiber Arts Center is committed to engaging in continuous learning that bridges cultures and social boundaries through innovation, openness, trust, and knowledge-sharing.
Promotion of the Fiber Ecosystem – The Fiber Arts begin with the shepherd or farmer and end with the client who values the locally handmade product. The The Española Valley Fiber Arts Center promotes a Fiber Ecosystem that grows, harvests, prepares and uses fibers creatively.
Community and Partnerships – Appreciation for the value of the Fiber Arts builds The The Española Valley Fiber Arts Center’s community through collaborative efforts that respect heritage and foster economic sustainability.
Our Staff
Pando (fka Amanda) Speer (she/they) | Media & Education Coordinator
Pando is a weaver, artist, and educator. Pando learned to weave at The Española Valley Fiber Arts Center in 2013 and has been working with EVFAC ever since. She has been the Media Coordinator since 2017 and working as both Media and Education Coordinator since 2019. Pando has taught a variety of weaving and dyeing classes at the center throughout the years. Her weavings have been shown throughout the USA as well as Indonesia, India, Thailand and more.
Contact - education@evfac.org
Kim Zitzow (they, she) | Director
Kim is a place-based interdisciplinary artist and weaver, bringing 2 decades of experience as a practicing/teaching artist and curriculum designer across higher education and international programs in Guatemala and throughout the United States. Kim was a participant in the first round of the Chimayo Weaving Apprenticeship and currently weaves for Centinela Traditional Arts in Chimayo.
At EVFAC Kim’s focus is on building the Youth Fiber Studio as a collaborative initiative rooted in the rich cultural and ecological context of Northern New Mexico. This approach aims to bridge traditional practices with contemporary perspectives, ensuring that the art of weaving and other land-based crafts remain relevant and vibrant for future generations.
Connect with Kim at director@evfac.org if you are a local teacher interested in incorporating weaving into your curriculum!
Debbie Harris | Retail Manager
Debbie has been with the Center since 2019. She handles all orders in the shop as well as donations and rental reservations.
Contact - info@evfac.org
Michelle San Buenaventura | Retail Assistant
Michelle has been working in EVFAC’s retail shop since 2023 and completed the Chimayó Weaving Apprenticeship in 2024. She also currently teaches in EVFAC’s youth and community programs, as well as the Walk in & Weave program.
Our Board
Maria Jonsson | Secretary
Maria Jonsson is a working fiber artist and teacher. Maria has been a member or affiliated with EVFAC since they opened their doors in 1995, and have taken many wonderful classes there and have participated in various group shows and other fiber related activities, as well as renting looms and weaving at the center.
Roy Kady | Board Member
Roy Kady is a Diné shepherd, weaver, spinner, and dyer residing in the community of Goats Spring near Teec Nos Pos Arizona.
From Roy Kady: I passionately weave and create with natural fibers to center myself in the cosmos of the universe. My ancestors, grandparents, and my Shimá (Mother) shared with me stories about how weaving was gifted to us in the creation world by Spider Man, by taking the natural elements of the universe to construct the first loom and then teaching his counterpart Spider Woman about weaving a web of life.
I also raise a special breed of sheep that was also gifted to us in the underworld, they have long dual fibers that is very suitable for the fiber arts that I pursue, whether it be a utilitarian wearable/or an Art décor for the collector, it sings a song of beauty.
My designs are inspired by my natural surroundings; whether it is color/colors for my palate, or stories that I have heard from the past/present. I hand process most of the natural fibers that I create with, and I grow several fibers to include in my Art as well, also I gather plants to vegetal dye my fibers to create one of a kind art pieces. Thus my creations represent my heritage; traditions and the ever evolving Art of Navajo Weaving that is consider one of the last primitive Arts that are still created on an upright loom.
Mary Pahl | Board Member
Mary has been weaving, knitting, crocheting, spinning, and sewing for many more years than she cares to admit. She has also tried her hand at quilting, dyeing, and basketry.
Robbie Berg | Board Member
Robbie Berg is a newly minted “artist”. There is not a media she doesn't like working with. Fabric and wood call to her the loudest. A quilter since 2005, Robbie uses fiber and fabric in many ways to create traditional and non-traditional quilts. She won the President's Choice award for her Mariner's Compass quilt in 2016. She was also awarded blue and red ribbons at the Clark County Fair in Clark County Washington in 2014. A life-long learner and teacher, Robbie has been teaching quilting and fiber classes for ten years. Robbie also an avid collector of vintage sewing machines and has refurbished several Singer Featherweights and cases. Her retirement in 2020 has allowed her to expand to teach technical classes on effective ways to quilt and create with sewing machines. Her fiber and wood art are featured at two art galleries in Lake Oswego and Yachats, Oregon.
Steve D Gallegos | Board Member
Steve D Gallegos has served on several boards, most recently on the Albuquerque Arts Board and the Albuquerque Art and History Museum. He was an Albuquerque City Councillor from 1983-1997 and a Bernalillo County Commissioner from 1997-2004. Steve also served as Sergeant at Arms for the New Mexico State Senate from 1995-1997. Steve is retired as a Director of Public Affairs from US West (Telecommunications) after a 30 year career.
Steve believes in the mission of EVFAC and think that hopes to help to maintain and provide a good future. Steve is excited and pleased with the youth education and summer programs. He believes it is important to nurture the younger population to ensure the future of fiber arts in Española and the surrounding communities.
Learn more about joining the EVFAC board of directors:
We are a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization. We are always looking for new Board Members. Learn more about joining the board today:
Revised COVID-19 Policy 05/15/2024
We do our best to regularly clean surfaces and create air flow, however we cannot guarantee that a COVID-19 infection will not occur.
While we no longer require proof of COVID-19 vaccinations, we do recommend adhering to the current CDC guidelines and wearing a mask if you are immune compromised:
stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines
wash your hands frequently and practice good hygiene
When you're sick:
if you have respiratory symptoms, use precautions to prevent spread: stay home and away from others
seek testing and/or treatment promptly
learn when you can go back to your normal activities (visit - www.cdc.gov)