May 2026

Kyrie Garretson and Marina Welch: Weaving with Maximo Laura in Peru

The Artists

Kyrie has a BFA in painting from Maryland Institute.  For many years, her primary textile involvement was in knitting and spinning, but in 2016, she lucked into a Baby Wolf loom and started weaving.  Weaving left all the other disciplines far behind!  She joined PFAG several years ago.  She shows regularly and won the Complex Weavers award at MAFA in 2023.  She has studied with many excellent weavers, most recently taking a Second Level Tapestry Workshop with Maximo Laura in Peru. 

Marina is a member of Pinellas Weavers Guild.  She became interested in tapestry weaving just before COVID closed down the world so she learned through online courses. Her interest was mostly in small format pieces, which suited both her lifestyle and her available space. In 2023 two opportunities for in person tapestry classes presented themselves. First was a workshop by Elizabeth Buckley titled Hachures in Contemporary Tapestry and then, later in the year, a tapestry weaving workshop with Maximo Laura in Yucay, Peru. In March of this year, she was able to return to Peru for a Level 2 tapestry workshop with Maximo and his team. Marina has also done a bit of weaving on a rigid heddle loom and on an inkle loom.

Guild Meeting/Program: Kyrie Garretson and Marina Welch: Weaving with Maximo Laura in Peru

Kyrie and Marina will share their experiences with both the Level 1 and Level 2 Maximo Laura workshops in Peru.  The Level 1 workshop takes place in Yucay, 8,000 feet high in the Sacred Valley and the Level 2 workshop in the vibrant Miraflores district of Lima.  Workshop samples, and weaving materials will be presented, along with a discussion of each workshop and the cultural extras included (and optional) in the programs.

 Maestro Maximo Laura is an internationally renowned textile artist known for his tapestry techniques and use of color.  He combines ancient traditions from the Andes with contemporary tapestry weaving, as well as his own textured techniques, to create tapestries that are vibrant in color and in textures.   In the workshops, he and his team of master weavers generously share their knowledge and guide students through the process of learning and applying various tapestry techniques. 

Date/Time: May 9, 2026 10:30 AM (following Guild meeting)

Location: St. James Episcopal Church, 11815 Seven Locks Rd, Potomac, MD 20854