Near Melrose in Curry County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Estella García
⎯⎯⎯
Fabric Artists: Women of the WPA
Photographed by Bill Kirchner, April 29, 2014
1. Estella García Marker
Side A:
Estella García. Estella García taught colcha embroidery at Melrose, New Mexico, for the Federal Arts Program in the 1930s. Anglo and Hispana women in Garcia's class collaborated to design and produce embroidered theater curtains, wall hangings, and seat coverings for institutions across the state including the Albuquerque Little Theatre. García is one of the few Hispanic women artists recorded in FAP documents. Unfortunately, few examples of her work remain.
Fabric Artists: Women of the Works Progress Administration. Under the umbrella of the WPA, the National Youth Administration, and the Federal Arts Program, instructors and students were recruited to work in community-based art centers that produced fabric arts, including weaving, colcha embroidery, and lace-making. While the artistic creativity of these mostly unrecognized women was considered “women's work for home use” by WPA administrators, this now popular New Mexican art form has been revitalized.
Erected by New Mexico Historic Preservation Division.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music
this page online
Location. 34° 25.332′ N, 103° 35.535′ W. Marker is near Melrose, New Mexico, in Curry County. It is on U.S. 60 at milepost 366, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Melrose NM 88124, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Eastern New Mexico. It is also in the American Southwest, on the Great Plains, on the Southern Plains, and specifically on the High Plains. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Comanchería, the Dust Bowl, and the Republic of Texas.
Other nearby markers. At least 3 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: All Gave Some Some Gave All (approx. 1.9 miles away); F-100A Super Saber (approx. 1.9 miles away); Llano Estacado (approx. 8.7 miles away).
Photographed by Bill Kirchner, April 29, 2014
2. Fabric Artists: Women of the WPA Marker
Side B:
Photographed by Bill Kirchner, April 29, 2014
3. Estella García/Fabric Artists: Women of the WPA Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on January 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 14, 2014, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,217 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 14, 2014, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
