Southern NM Festival of Quilts brings art to Alamogordo

ALAMOGORDO – The Southern New Mexico Festival of Quilts, hosted by First National Bank, kicks off Friday and will run through the weekend bringing colorful art to Otero County.

The nationally acclaimed Southern New Mexico Festival of Quilts began nine years ago, when Australian international textile artist, photographer and author Pam Holland visited a long-time Alamogordo friend, Lisa Blevins.

After seeing Holland’s work, the idea to start a festival emerged because so many people loved her craft, including staff from First National Bank.

More:Southern New Mexico Festival of Quilts gives back to community

Nine years later, Holland has committed herself to teaching classes in Alamogordo, with funds going to children in the community.

“It started off really small, even in those early days we still had it in the Fairgrounds. But in that first year we raised $10,000,” Holland said. “To date, we’ve given $80,000 to the community, which I’m pretty proud of.”

Almost $80,000 has been raised to benefit such organizations as 4-H, FFA, Boys and Girls Club, Zia Therapy Center, Dolly Parton Imagination Library, Alamogordo Public Children’s Library, Love INC Back Pack Program, D.A.R.E., Tularosa Little League Baseball and Operation Child I.D. Program just to name a few.

Holland said the event has grown and grown to what it is today, hundreds of people from all over the country and Canada are set to take Holland’s classes this weekend.

This year’s special guest will be Ricky Tims, an internationally acclaimed quilter and musician and Sue Rasmussen, a nationally acclaimed quilt teacher, lecturer and artist.

“It’s grown and grown to what the quilting community knows about it now,” Holland said. “We have another famous quilter coming in, Ricky Tims, he’s a wonderful pianist and quilter. It’s become a great four day event. These are not your grandmother’s quilts. We call it textile art, we sew portraits in fabrics, totally different then what people associate with quilting.”

First National Bank spokeswoman Rainee Mackewich said First National Bank looks forward to the event every year because the goal is to make Alamogordo a destination for the quilting and crafts world.

“We look forward to it every year, it’s growing and becoming a destination,” Mackewich said. “We love seeing people that have been with us since the beginning come back and make new friends.”

President and CEO of First National Bank Steve Muell said he’s honored to have Holland back bringing a positive event that gives back to the community.

“I’m incredibly honored that she (Holland) chose First National Bank to partner with. We never thought it would evolve to what it is today, a nationally acclaimed quilting event,” Muell said. “I’m truly excited for the opportunity for quilters locally and nationally to come visit Alamogordo.”

This year, money that will be raised from the event will go to the Alamogordo FIRST Robotics (FRC) team which educates students in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) field.

Classes will be held Friday, June 22, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, June 23, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $7 per day or $10 for a two-day pass.

Ricky Tims in concert at the Flickinger Center for Performing Arts is Friday, June 22, at 7 p.m., tickets are $25.

Tickets can be purchased at the door or online at www.snmfq.com

For more info contact First National Bank at 437-4880.