March News from The Fábrica

Visitors to the Pajaro Valley Quilt Guild’s annual show admire a recent quilt made by Kelly Murry, friend & collaborator of The Fábrica.

Maybe it’s impending catastrophic climate change, but spring is in the air! The days are getting longer and warmer. You might be feeling less inspired to sit at home knitting. Perhaps the outdoors are calling you. There is new, green growth all around us. And yet, the horrors of authoritarianism and war intrude on the hope and newness of the season!

Resistance and community work feel as important as every right now. Don’t forget that art and joy can be forms of resistance too. They do not replace the hard work of resisting oppression, but they sustain us in the fight(s).

We have a bunch of art events to share with you this month, both at The Fábrica and at other locales around Santa Cruz. Also a new workshop at the end of the month and an update on our work with FashionTeens.

We have some plans in the works, so expect to hear from us soon regarding new workshops and a 16th birthday party! Until then, keep loving and keep fighting.


Events at the Fábrica:

First Friday Art Show:

“Greasy Leaves”

Hunter Wedaa

Friday, March 6, 2026
6 pm – 9pm
@ The Fábrica, 703 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA

Join us for a First Friday open house at The Fábrica! This month will feature “Greasy Leaves,” a collection of mixed print media works by Hunter Wedaa. “Using natural dyes, ecoprints, lithographs, and silkscreen printing Hunter creates a dialogue centered around materials that are “good” or “bad” for the environment: the rich blacks from grease-based lithography, the natural colors from plant dyes, as well as the versatility and vibrancy of silkscreen printing.”


Not a Fábrica event… or is it?!

First Friday at Little Giant Collective

Fun-A-Day

Friday, March 6, 2026
6 pm – 9pm

@ Little Giant Collective, 115 River St South, Santa Cruz, CA

Fun-a-Day happened in January– come to Little Giant Collective this Friday to see what people made! Fábrica collective members and friends of the project are among the participants in this group show.

More info on Instagram.


And one more First Friday textile arts show!

at The Art League:

“Back and Forth: The Unintended Beauty of Textiles”

Friday, March 6, 2026
5 pm – 7:30 pm

@ Santa Cruz Art League, 526 Broadway, Santa Cruz, CA

Here’s an a little snippet about the show. More info on the First Friday website.

“Back and Forth: The Unintended Beauty of Textiles is an exploration of the both the intentional and unexpected artistry that arises through textile work, curated by local fiber artist Jody Alexander.”

Exhibiting Artists: Douglas Baulos • Zak Foster • Carole Gelker • Lotta Helleberg • Lisa Hochstein • Peter Madden • Tracie Noles Ross • Rebecca Ringquest • Steph Rue • Sheri Schumacker


Workshop:

Ecoprints w/ Hunter Wedaa

Sunday, March 22, 2026
12 pm – 3 pm

@ The Fábrica, 703 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA

Eco-printing is a natural dyeing technique where leaves, flowers, and plants are applied directly to fabric and processed to transfer their unique pigments and shapes, creating one-of-a-kind, lasting botanical imprints.


Fashion Teens

The Fábrica is thrilled to be collaborating with FashionTeens this season! FashionTeens is a program of the Santa Cruz County Office of Education which facilitates middle and high school aged youth from across the county to design, create, and model unique fashion and wearable art. The FashionTeens program promotes creative material reuse, asks participants to center social and ecological justice in their designs, and creates a platform for youth empowerment and expression.

What a great match for the work we do here at The Fábrica, right? For the past month and a half Fábrica has been helping to host a weekly youth meetup where participants can get mentorship, source materials, and work on their designs.  Save the date– this year’s runway show is coming at the Rio Theater April 24th. 


The Workshop is Open!

Open Hours:

Saturdays 2pm – 5pm
Sundays 3pm – 6pm
Mondays 12pm – 3pm

Please check the Hours/Calendar page for the most current information.


Support The Fábrica !

Are you interested in volunteering with The Fábrica? There are lots of ways you can help out around the shop or at events. If you have some free time you’d like to spend with us, fill out the volunteer interest form.

Making a recurring donation of $5 or more helps us a lot! Thank you for your support!


Miscellanea:

  • If you haven’t done so already, save this phone number in your phone: (831) 239-4289. This is who you should call if you think you’ve spotted an ICE or DHS raid in Santa Cruz County. If you want to join the network of legal observers, you can find info about YARR (Your Allied Rapid Response) trainings on their website and socials.
  • Our lovely neighbors Subrosa are a small arts venue and meeting space that hosts concerts and classes almost daily.
  • Our other neighbors The Bike Church are like the Fábrica for bikes! If you’re new to bike maintenance, check out their monthly “Intro to Bikes” workshop.
  • Check out the Free Skool Calendar.

Follow us on Instagram!

The Time is Now! (A.K.A. February News)

A photo of small art print: it shows a venn diagram on a white background. One circle shows the phrase “be gentle” on a blue watercolor wash. The other circle shows the phrase “be fierce” with a hit of rosy purple color.

It may seem that too much has happened since January 1, 2026. It can’t be that only a month has passed since the New Year!

Let the chaos, heartache, and fear inspire you to take action. But also, remember that the struggle is a long and winding road…make time for rest and care for your loved ones.

Here is our news for February. As usually, we’ll see you in the streets and we’ll see you at the stitch ‘n bitch.


Local Protests against State Violence

“The Time is Now” was out on the streets of Santa Cruz last week at rallies against state violence.

There have been numerous local gatherings over the past few weeks in response to ICE raids and repression in Minnesota and elsewhere.

Some of the banners from the Protest Banner Lending Library have been out at these events. If you’re interested in borrowing a banner, check out this page and get in touch at least a few days in advance.

One such rally is planned for tomorrow at the Clock Tower in Santa Cruz. This youth-led protest against ICE will take place on January 31st from noon until 3pm.


Events at the Fábrica:

First Friday Art Show:

“Quilted Whimsy: Reflections on Environments”

Jo Troutner

Friday, February 6, 2026
6 pm – 9pm

@ The Fábrica, 703 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA

Join us for a First Friday open house at The Fábrica! This month will feature “Quilted Whimsy: Reflections on Environments”, featuring quilted works by Jo Troutner. Read the full description on the First Friday calendar.


Not a Fábrica event at all, actually!

Pajaro Valley Quilt Association’s

48th Annual Quilt Show

February 21-22 2026
Saturday 10 am – 5 pm
Sunday 10 am – 4 pm

@ The Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds
Watsonville, CA

Several Fábrica Collective members and comrades will have quilts in the show. Stop by to see what Blaize, Ivy, Pete, Kelly, and other friends have been working on this year.


Juristac is protected at last!

Two young people hold a “Protect Juristac” banner at a march in 2019. The Fábrica made and donated this banner to the movement to support their efforts.

We are extremely happy to hear that the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band and Post Land Trust have secured the purchase of an important ancestral sacred site known as Juristic.

This is an excerpt from a statement by Ed Ketchum, Tribal Band Chairman: “For years, this sacred place faced the threat of a massive open‑pit sand and gravel mine that would have destroyed hundreds of acres of cultural sites, threatened the lives of plants and animals alike, and irreparably damaged the spiritual and cultural integrity of the land. The Tribe made clear that such harm could never be undone, and it would have decimated one of the last remaining undisturbed areas in Mutsun territory. Today, that threat no longer exists.”

You can read more on the Amah Mutsun Instagram. Please consider making a donation or learning more about the Land Trust at their website.


The Workshop is Open!

Open Hours:

Saturdays 2pm – 5pm
Sundays 3pm – 6pm
Mondays 12pm – 3pm

Please check the Hours/Calendar page for the most current information.


Support The Fábrica !

Are you interested in volunteering with The Fábrica? There are lots of ways you can help out around the shop or at events. If you have some free time you’d like to spend with us, fill out the volunteer interest form.

Making a recurring donation of $5 or more helps us a lot! Thank you for your support!


Miscellanea:

  • If you haven’t done so already, save this phone number in your phone: (831) 239-4289. This is who you should call if you think you’ve spotted an ICE or DHS raid in Santa Cruz County. If you want to join the network of legal observers, you can find info about YARR (Your Allied Rapid Response) trainings on their website and socials.
  • Our lovely neighbors Subrosa are a small arts venue and meeting space that hosts concerts and classes almost daily.
  • Our other neighbors The Bike Church are like the Fábrica for bikes! If you’re new to bike maintenance, check out their monthly “Intro to Bikes” workshop.
  • Check out the Free Skool Calendar.

Follow us on Instagram!