Colcha embroidery from the American Southwest is a form of surface embroidery that uses wool threads on cotton or linen fabric. During the Spanish Colonial period, the word colcha referred to a densely embroidered wool coverlet. In time, the word also came to refer to the embroidery stitch that was used for these coverlets and then began to be used on other surfaces. The colcha stitch is self-couched, with threads applied at a 45-degree angle to tie down the stitch. Originally the wool threads were dyed naturally, using plants or insects, such as cochineal. Both materials used and design motifs have varied over time.
“I noticed Elaine’s colcha work at an exhibition of colcha at Hacienda de los Martinez. Then a mutual friend introduced us. We got to talking and I thought lets do a show. Introduce the ‘art of colcha’ as the Fine Art of Colcha. It really is an art form all its own. There is so much history behind the art form. I suggested we make a slight change in how they are displayed,” Rob Nightingale said.
“Traditional colcha is hung on the wall unframed, perhaps with a dowel backing or string. I suggested we frame them as fine works of art,” he said.
“I have loved colors and textures my whole life and can spend hours working on mosaics and collages — anything that I can fit colors and shapes together like puzzles, “ says Elaine Graves, who comes from a long line of colcheras. Her mother taught her the colcha stitch and her grandmother, Sophie Graves, in turn taught her.
“My mom’s love for big bold flowers gives me inspiration,” she says.
“Many of my colchas contain old pieces of my grandma’s fabric and lots of her yarns. I even use one of her old needles on occasion. This journey has taught me so much about my Carson family roots and the women artisans who came before me. I love making my own mark in Taos art history while keeping true to the traditional colcha stitch. I hope to pass on this gift of colcha to my daughter and generations to come.” Elaine Graves explains.
Elaine Graves has spent most of her life in New Mexico and now divides her time between Santa Fe and Taos.
She comes from the Carson Graves family of colcheras whose work has been shown in galleries and museums across the country including the Millicent Rogers Museum in Taos. She learned the colcha stitch from her mom, watercolor artist Louise Graves, nearly 20 years ago.
Her colchas have been shown at the Martinez Hacienda and are currently on display at Wilder Nightingale Fine Art in Taos.
Wilder Nightingale Fine Art presents “The Art of Colcha” with Elaine Graves. Generational surface embroidery from the American Southwest.
From Aug. 31–Sept. 15 with opening reception Saturday, Aug. 31, 5–7 p.m.
Wilder Nightingale Fine Art, 119 Kit Carson Road, Taos.
For more information, call 575-758-3255.
