Southwest Weaving:
A Continuum
Curated by Stefani Salkeld
Southwest Weaving: A Continuum, the second exhibition in a Native American art series from the San Diego Museum of Man, showcases over 140 years of weaving traditions from Southwestern Pueblo communities, Navajo groups, and New Mexican Hispanic villages. Highlighting the museum’s rich textile collection, the exhibition features rare Pueblo ritual weavings, as well as vibrant contemporary works by male Hopi and San Felipe weavers.
Navajo textiles, created predominantly by women, span three major periods: Classic (c. 1650–1865), Transitional (c. 1865–1895), and Rug Era (c. 1895–present). These include blankets, rugs, saddle covers, and novelty weavings, all rooted in spiritual and cultural traditions such as the Spider Grandmother legend.
The exhibition also explores the hybrid weaving style of New Mexico’s Hispanic villages, notably the Rio Grande blankets, which reflect the region’s complex cultural intermingling. Funded by the Lila Wallace Reader’s Digest Fund, the exhibition underscores the enduring creativity and cultural significance of Southwestern textile arts.