Show Preview | Pueblo Grande Indian Market

Phoenix, AZ
Pueblo Grande Museum, December 12-13

Jesse Hummingbird, Blessings of Chiefs, acrylic.

This story was featured in the December 2015 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Get the Southwest Art December 2015 print issue or digital download now–then subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss another story

For nearly 40 years, the Pueblo Grande Museum Auxiliary has been bringing together Native American artists, craftsmen, and entertainers, from all walks of life and tribes, to offer a unique Indian market experience to visitors. On Saturday, December 12, the 39th annual Pueblo Grande Museum Auxiliary Indian Market opens at 9 a.m. with more than 100 artists’ booths featuring pottery, jewelry, sculpture, paintings, and basketry. Also featured is entertainment from nationally known Native entertainers, such as the Jones Benally Family Navajo dance troupe, Grammy-nominated guitarist Aaron White, Yaqui classical guitarist Gabriel Ayala, Native American and Celtic mixed-blood violinist Arvel Bird, and comedian James Junes, who serves as the emcee for this year’s show. This year’s featured artist is Jay Jacob Livingston, a third-generation silversmith of Navajo and Zuni heritage, whose featured art piece is a bolo tie entitled BURST ARROWHEAD BOLO.

The theme of the 2015 market is the contemporary Native American, says Nathan J. Lefthand, chairman of the market. Along with being a fundraiser for the museum, the show is a venue “for showing the world who we are now, how we live, and how we deal with what has happened to us,” he says. A pivotal part of that is the introduction of a new art category: film. “Most [Indian Market] shows reflect Native Americans in the past tense,” Lefthand explains, “but, for the most part, all of us are urban Indians. We live in a contemporary world, and we need to show the world who we are now in the 21st century.” This year, alongside the fine arts and crafts, the show features the work of independent filmmakers in a variety of categories, including feature-length films, films created on mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones, animation, documentaries, music videos, and more.

“We are really excited about the introduction of the film category. We hope that it will be a success and draw both new artists and new patrons,” Lefthand says. —Laura Rintala

contact information
602.495.0901
www.pueblogrande.org/indian-market

Featured in the December 2015 issue of Southwest Art magazine–click below to purchase:
Southwest Art December 2015 print issue or digital download Or subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss a story!