Show Preview | Indian Market - Southwest Art Magazine

Downtown Santa Fe, NM, August 18-19

An aerial view of downtown Santa Fe during Indian Market.

This story was featured in the August 2012 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Order the Southwest Art magazine August 2012 print edition here, or purchase the Southwest Art magazine August 2012 digital download here. Or simply click here to subscribe to Southwest Art magazine and never miss a story!

Each year in August, downtown Santa Fe is flooded with Native American art, artists, collectors, and enthusiasts for the largest and most prestigious Native American arts show in the world. The 91st annual Santa Fe Indian Market is August 18-19 and features more than 1,100 artists, who show works ranging from pottery and jewelry to paintings and sculpture.

The event is produced by the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts, a nonprofit organization with the mission of bringing Native arts to the world by inspiring artistic excellence, fostering education, and creating meaningful partnerships. “Nowhere else can you come to one place and get such a sense of the diversity of Native cultures,” says Bruce Bernstein, executive director of SWAIA.

Numerous events in Native film, literature, music, fashion, and visual art take place during the week leading up to Indian Market weekend. “It’s really a week-long celebration,” Bernstein says. “The hope is that people come and immerse themselves and get a real understanding of who Native people are today.”

Admission is free for Indian Market weekend and most of the events during Indian Market Week. The Best of Show Ceremony and Luncheon is a ticketed event that takes place on August 17 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Santa Fe Convention Center. Another ticketed event and a major fundraiser for SWAIA is the Live Auction Gala on August 18 from 5 to 9:30 p.m. at La Fonda on the Plaza. Guests enjoy gourmet food and entertainment while bidding on works by renowned Native American artists.

Whether you’re an avid collector, artist, or simply interested in learning more about Native arts and cultures, the Santa Fe Indian Market has something for everyone. Even after 90 years, the enthusiasm of attendees is palpable. “Art creates this common consciousness,” Bern-stein says, adding that it’s the excitement people have when they come together for a common cause that makes Indian Market such a special and culturally significant event. —Lindsay Mitchell

contact information
505.983.5220
www.swaia.org

Featured in the August 2012 issue of Southwest Art magazine–click below to purchase:
Southwest Art magazine August 2012 digital download
Southwest Art magazine August 2012 print edition
Or click here to subscribe to Southwest Art magazine and never miss a story!