Meet Annette Gutierrez Turk

Annette Guttierez Turk

“I volunteer with the Weaving Group,” says Annette Gutierrez Turk. “I came to El Rancho de las Golondrinas in 2009 as a visitor and was enticed into volunteering by then-coordinator, Beatrice Maestas Sandoval. Under her tutelage, I learned to spin with the malacate and spinning wheel, learned how to dye wool with native plant materials and honed my weaving skills. Bea pushed me to grow and learn and finally to jury into Spanish Market. I endeavor to continue volunteering and helping new volunteers to become comfortable with skills we promote at the Ranch.

As a fiber artist with a primary interest in colcha embroidery, I’ve been able to enrich my interests by participating in all wool processing techniques, including sheep shearing at the Ranch! Further, museum “crawling” has given me an appreciation of the life of the Colonial settlers and their churro sheep. Relating the importance of the churro is always part of my interaction with visitors.

Born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, I missed out on some of the Northern New Mexico traditions, so I am eager to catch up and enjoy all that Northern New Mexico has to offer. The festivals promoted by El Rancho de las Golondrinas all feed into those traditions, for which I am most grateful.

I’ve benefited from the Ranch in so many ways. I have an active interest in my ancestors and truly appreciate all they had to master in this new and sometimes inhospitable land. Recently I learned of my familial ties to Don Juan Perez Oñate.

I remain amazed at the structure of El Rancho de Las Golondrinas and its mission to teach our visitors about the gifts given to us by our ancestors. I take great joy in demonstrating for our visitors the practical arts practiced by the men and women of Colonial New Mexico.”

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