Churro Collection History

"Today "The Navajo Churro Collection" is a premier collection of contemporary Navajo Weavings, which are exclusively commissioned by Steve, from the Churro wool he provides to some of the most capable Navajo-weaving artists of today."

Each weaving from "The Churro Collection" is sequentially numbered and accompanied by a certificate which includes: the Registry Number, a photograph of the weaving and artist, and all other information pertaining to the weaving.

Each weaving from "The Churro Collection" is sequentially numbered and accompanied by a certificate which includes: the Registry Number, a photograph of the weaving and artist, and all other information pertaining to the weaving. The ladies love the wool and are clearly inspired by the new colors and designs with which they are experimenting. Steve and all of the weaving artists involved are very excited about the prospects for their weaving in the future.

'The Navajo Churro Collection' is a special Navajo weaving project commissioned by Steve Getzwiller

THE NAVAJO CHURRO COLLECTION

The Churro breed of sheep was introduced into the Rio Grande Valley by the Spaniards in the 17th century and were obtained by the Navajos through raiding and trade. The lustrous fibers of Churro Wool are long and straight with a very low lanolin content, making them ideal for the limited hand methods of Navajo weaving. Additionally, the Churro Sheep are very hardy and well adapted to the harsh dry conditions under which the Navajo live.

The historic superiority of weavings produced from the wool of Churro sheep is very apparent in the blankets that have survived through time. The obvious need to elevate the quality of the wool used in contemporary Navajo weaving is what inspired Steve Getzwiller to search for the best sources of Churro wool available today, and to make his contribution to the process of reintroducing this wool to the Navajo Loom. One of his goals has been to establish the finest flock of Registered Navajo Churro Sheep on the Navajo Reservation today, and he is well on his way to meeting that goal.

Today “The Navajo Churro Collection” is a premier collection of contemporary Navajo Weavings, which are exclusively commissioned by Steve, from the Churro wool he provides to some of the most capable Navajo-weaving artists of today. The fleece of this registered line of Churro sheep is of the highest quality available. It is completely hand washed and dyed, then custom and hand spun. The dyes utilized consist of aniline and natural vegetal dyes. The natural wool colors are also custom and hand spun to create rich and variegated grays, browns, and tans.

A registry of all the weavings was established for the collection. Each weaving is sequentially numbered and accompanied by a certificate which includes: the Registry Number, a photograph of the weaving and artist, and all other information pertaining to the weaving. This is provided to the collector for their information, as well as future historical reference.

“The Navajo Churro Collection” was part of a major exhibition presented in November 2000 at the Desert Caballeros Western Museum in Wickenburg Arizona. The exhibition was an overview of Steve’s 25 years of influence and contributions to Navajo Weaving. Examples of weavings were featured from some of the finest Navajo weavers of our time, resulting from the collaborative work between Steve and the weavers.

Steve Getzwiller continues to push the envelope by introducing new weaving materials and styles. “THE NEXT PHASE” Exhibit at the Desert Caballeros Western Museum in 2006 was a history making exhibit of the first true revival of Navajo Blankets and introduction of “Wearable” Navajo Textile Art. Silk and Alpaca Shawls were introduced here and continue to be presented at the “WESTERN DESIGN CONFERENCE” in Jackson WY. The 2008 WDC introduced the first Silk Shawl with custom beadwork …. To be continued….

Many weavings have won awards at the "Inter-Tribal Ceremonial in Gallup New Mexico", each year. Winning Best of Textile 7 out of 8 years and Best of Show 4 out of 8 years

THE NAVAJO CHURRO COLLECTION

Excerpted from an article printed in the June issue of Phoenix Home and Garden.

The Churro breed of sheep were introduced by the Spaniards in the mid 1500's upon their discovery and colonization of the "New World". Having originated in the mountainous regions of southern Spain, they were well adapted to the arid and poor forage conditions of this new environment. Twice on the brink of extinction, this hardy breed of sheep endures. In 1863, the Kit Carson/U.S. Military campaign to incarcerate the Navajo people and destroy their economy {the sheep} was successful in rounding up about half of the population, taking them to Bosque Redondo and killing a large percentage of their sheep. The escaping Navajo went into hiding with the remnants of their flocks. Upon returning from "The Long Walk", they were issued new breeds of sheep, which for the most part replaced the Churro wool in their weaving. Some weaver's preference for their "old wool" persisted, and many managed to rebuild their Churro flocks. Later, in the 1930's, Congress enacted the Taylor Grazing Act; tens of thousands of sheep were killed. This federally enforced stock reduction program was the result of overgrazing and the severe draught conditions of the dust bowl era. Still a few bands of Churro survived, secreted away in the remote canyons of Navajo land. Navajo weavers first used Churro wool during the classic period of Navajo weaving (1700-1863). The superior quality of these weavings is very evident in the blankets that have survived through time. The lustrous fibers of the wool were long and straight, ideal for the limited hand methods of Navajo weaving. Also, the low lanolin content reduced the necessity for extensive cleaning in a land of little water. In recent years, the efforts of a few dedicated breeders have revived the Churro genetics and fleece quality. However, the circle was not complete, as the wool wasn't getting into the hands of Navajo weavers. The most successful effort to reintroduce Churro wool to the Navajo loom was accomplished by native Arizonan, Steve Getzwiller. He set out to revive some of the older design elements as well as some rare and natural dyes. The reintroduction of Churro wool brought those lustrous qualities back to the finished weavings, completing the circle and reconnecting some of the weavers with their past. "The Navajo Churro Collection" was born.
Sheep = Fiber = Art