LLenad Grisial Collage

Christine Echols was born and raised in the beautiful San Luis Valley in Southern Colorado, USA. With influence from a family well versed in the arts, she began at an early age to work with textiles and was inspired by her surroundings of bright sunlight, color and the variety of textures and beauty from nature in the nearby Rocky Mountains and Northern New Mexico landscape. Artistic expression with bright color is what this artist enjoyed the most as a child and this passion for colour continues to be seen in her work today. Attending schools in Colorado until 18, she then attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah majoring in clothing and textile design with business and archaeology as minors. After 2 years at University, she discontinued her studies at BYU to marry and raise 6 children. When her children were grown she returned in 2003 to BYU and completed her degree in 2005, this time Graduating with two new majors: Art History and Museum Studies/Preservation and Studio Fine Art. She also studied Farsi as a second language and minored in Business and Psychology. While at University she spent 3 years working with the Museum of Peoples and Cultures as the Museum’s NAGPRA specialist for US Govt. compliance. After graduation she acted as Museum Specialist for Cabrillo National Monument in San Diego, CA until retirement. Before returning to the University, however, time was found to develop architectural and interior design skills culminating in the completion of several custom homes and mountain retreats. She is also skilled in turquoise stone-cutting and polishing for Native American jewelry. For a period of 8 years she was the owner of a Women’s Boutique featuring designer dresses for her customers. During this period of her life, however, she continued to work with art and textiles and they remained her main love and focus. After completing her degree she became an accomplished and award-winning long-arm quilter and during this period she custom designed specialty quilts for several different cotton fabric Manufacturer’s in the eastern part of US, including her designs being distributed internationally. Her work has also been represented by the Silver Sun Gallery, Santa Fe, NM, USA.