About the artist
Jane Chavez received her Bachelors of Science in Agronomy in 1973 from New Mexico State University, and in 1996 she obtained a Masters in Technology of Education from the University of New Mexico. In 2000 she was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to Study ambient air quality and ecology in Brazil. From 1978 to 2003 she taught secondary sciences with the Santa Fe Public School.
In 1992 Jane began to develop an interest in baskets. At this time she started to create coiled horsehair baskets. Friends and relatives encouraged her to pursue this art form and Windsor Betts Gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico carried her work. Since then she has shown in galleries throughout the southwest and on the east and west coasts.
Jane’s unique horsehair and hand stamped sterling silver baskets have received a Trademark Design from the United States Patent and Trademark Office. This registration of Jane’s work protects the integrity of the artwork associated with her name.
From 1999 to 2003 Jane showed her distinctive horsehair baskets in the juried Museum of New Mexico, Fiber Arts Festival of Traditional Cultures of the Southwest in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Every year she participated in this juried exhibition she won first place in the Contemporary Mixed Media Basketry category. In 2003, 2005, 2006and 2009 the artist was asked to place her work in the juried and invitational National Basketry Organization exhibitions. In 2005 she was juried into the Arizona State University Art Museum’s exhibition entitled “Intertwined: Contemporary Baskets from the Sara and David Lieberman Collection”. This exhibition traveled to the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Palo Alto Art Center, James A Michener Art Museum, Bellevue Arts Museum and New Mexico Museum of Art. Jane was asked by Snyderman-Works Gallery in 2006 and 2007 to show in the SOFA (Structural Objects and Functional Arts) Exhibit in Chicago. In 2008 the Santa Fe Arts commission choose 2 of Jane’s baskets for their permanent art collection at the new Santa Fe Civic Center.
Several articles in prestigious art, craft and fiber magazines have been written about Jane and her artwork, including, SouthwestArt magazine, American Cowboy magazine, Western Art Collector magazine, The Crafts Report and Fiberarts magazine.