“We hoard our turquoise because it’s our way of life,” says Puebloan jewelry artist Rey Pacheco, who works alongside her husband Farrell. “Some people invest in stocks; our stocks are our stones. And it’s truly an investment because when you cut into rock, you never know if it’s going to crumble or if it’s going to stay solid.”
Many of the Pacheco’s designs, including the fantail necklace that won Farrell top prize at the prestigious Santa Fe Indian Market in 2018, feature mosaic inlay, a technique in which tiny, irregular pieces of stone are arranged piece by piece. The style has a meaningful history among Puebloan jewelers, who, during the Great Depression, inlaid jewelry not just with turquoise and shell, but also with found materials like plastic from car-battery casings and fast-food utensils. Thunderbird jewelry, as it was known, became popular among tourists and helped the tribe endure the hardships of the era.”
“Shipping delays are on the horizon for the holiday season, so “shop local” may just be the gift-giving mantra for 2021. The Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA) brings back its in-person Winter Indian Market in time to select some fine art and handmade goods by award-winning Native American artists. Held Saturday, Nov. 20, and Sunday, Nov. 21, at La Fonda on the Plaza, the market features 150 of SWAIA’s juried Indigenous artists from the 2021 Santa Fe Indian Market in August. The event also includes an online auction.”
“Support Indigenous artists at Winter Indian Market, watch New Mexico’s arts stars shine, shop local in Las Cruces, sit with a symphony, and get some fiber.”
If you missed out on this year’s return to an in-person Indian Market for whatever reason (travel, tickets, time, temperature, etc.), you’ll have another chance to check out work from Indigenous artists in an admittedly more subdued but no less excellent fashion. The Southwestern Association for Indian Arts Winter Indian Market returns to La Fonda on the Plaza with nearly 200 juried artists you might have caught at the big summer market (or not), a silent auction and more. Whether you’re adding to the collection, looking to catch the next big artist or simply love any massive gathering of intensely talented people, you’re bound to find something worth texting people about. It could be like, “OMG. Just saw most byoo-tee-full art of all time.” And then your friend will be like “K,” but you’ll know it was cool and that makes it worth it. (ADV)
Her life changed after her fiancee asked her to paint a portrait of Muhammad Ali.
“One day I was at work and she said, ‘I have a surprise for you,’ ” Begaye said. “She said, ‘I started a Facebook page for you.’ ”
By 2017, Begaye was taking her artwork seriously, entering the Santa Fe Indian Market.
“I will always remember a specific powerful moment in June 2017, right after a successful art show,” she stated. “My hands had a buzzing feeling. I looked down at my palms and finally acknowledged the Creator’s gift I was given. This wasn’t just doodling.”
“After last year’s Virtual Winter Market, SWAIA is thrilled to be returning to an in-person market at the historic La Fonda Hotel,” said SWAIA executive director Kim Peone. Approximately 200 of SWAIA’s juried Indigenous artists from the 2021 Santa Fe Indian Market will be featured.
This year’s Winter Indian Market will also include a silent auction to raise funds to support SWAIA’s Indigenous art community.
If you’re there in person, bring an unwrapped present to donate to SWAIA’s holiday gift drive, to be donated to the Santa Fe Indigenous Center.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—October 25, 2021; Santa Fe, N.M.— The Southwestern Association for Indian Arts is pleased to announce the dates of this year’s Winter Indian Market. The weekend shopping event will commence on Saturday, November 20, from 9 am to 5 pm and continue Sunday, November 21, from 10 am to 3 pm. Beginning November 1, tickets will be available for sale at swaia.org.
“After last year’s Virtual Winter Market, SWAIA is thrilled to be returning to an in-person market at the historic La Fonda Hotel,” said Kim Peone, SWAIA’s Executive Director. Roughly 200 of SWAIA’s juried Indigenous artists from the 2021 Santa Fe Indian Market will be featured.
This year’s Winter Indian Market will also include a silent auction to raise funds to support SWAIA’s Indigenous art community. Online bidding will begin on Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm and on Sunday from 10 am to 1 pm.
Finally, please consider donating a new, unwrapped present to SWAIA’s holiday gift drive. All gifts will be donated to the Santa Fe Indigenous Center for children, infants to 16 years of age. For additional information and to donate, visit Santa Fe Indigenous Center’s non-profit information table at Winter Market on both Saturday and Sunday.
The Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA) is a non-profit organization supporting Native American arts and culture. It creates economic and cultural opportunities for Native American artists by producing and promoting the Santa Fe Indian Market, the biggest and most prestigious Indian art event in the world since 1922; cultivating excellence and innovation across traditional and non-traditional art forms; and developing programs and events that support, promote, and honor Native artists year-round. swaia.org
SANTA FE, N.M., Oct. 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA) is pleased to announce the appointment of its newly elected executive committee and board members. L. Stephine Poston (Sandia Pueblo), who has served on the board for the past 4 years, as well as a previous term from 2010 – 2015 has been elected Board Chair. Poston succeeds Tom Teegarden and brings years of experience as a communications leader within the Native American community.
“I am honored to work collaboratively to usher in the Centennial of the prestigious Indian Market. We are a diverse board with a common commitment to SWAIA’s mission: bringing Native arts to the world by inspiring artistic excellence, fostering education and creating meaningful partnerships. I want to thank Tom Teegarden for navigating the pandemic waters and creating a pathway for Centennial,” said Poston.
Bill Lomax (Gitxsan), Vice President, Goldman Sachs’ Investment Management Division, will serve as the board’s Vice-Chair. Scott Malouf was elected treasurer and Angelique Albert (Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes) will act as secretary.
SWAIA also inducted new board members Russell Sanchez (San Ildefonso Pueblo), Elias Gallegos, Patricia Marroquin Norby (Purépecha), JoAnn Chase (Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara), Walter Lamar (Blackfeet Nation/ Wichita Tribe), Angelique Albert (Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes) and Bill Lomax (Gitxsan).
“We are delighted with the new board appointments, which include leaders in tribal business and Indigenous art and speak to the health of our organization,” said Executive Director Kim Peone (Colville Confederated Tribes / Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians).
SWAIA’s 2021 Board Members:
Andrea Hanley (Navajo)— Chief curator at the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian in Santa Fe, New Mexico
Angelique Albert (Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes)— Chief Executive Officer American Indian Graduate Center
Bill Lomax (Gitxsan) —Vice President, Goldman Sachs
Chris Youngblood (Santa Clara Pueblo)— Potter
Elias Gallegos— Film actor/producer. Film & Media Director for renowned author and filmmaker George RR Martin
Patricia Marroquin Norby (Purépecha)— Associate Curator of Native American Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Scott Malouf—Owner of Drest and Malouf on the Plaza
Russell Sanchez (San Ildefonso Pueblo)— Potter
L. Stephine Poston (Sandia Pueblo)— CEO Poston & Associates
Tazbah McCullah (Diné/Navajo)—General Manager KSFR FM
Tom Teegarden—Vice President at High Water Mark, LLC
Randy Chitto (Mississippi Choctaw)— Sculpture Artist
JoAnn Chase (Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Indian Nation)— Director of the American Indian Environmental Office, Office of International and Tribal Affairs
About The Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA): The Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA) is a non-profit organization supporting Native American arts and culture. It creates economic and cultural opportunities for Native American artists by producing and promoting the Santa Fe Indian Market, the biggest and most prestigious Indian art event in the world since 1922; cultivating excellence and innovation across traditional and non-traditional art forms; and developing programs and events that support, promote, and honor Native artists year-round. swaia.org
Artist Rhonda Holy Bear is awarded Best of Show at Santa Fe Indian Market 2021 Awards Luncheon in the Beadwork/Quillwork Classification
Santa Fe Indian Market is pleased to announce this year’s Best of Show, Best of Class and Special Award winners in a variety of classifications. For 99 years, Santa Fe Indian Market, the world’s largest and most prestigious Native American art market, has awarded Best of Show winners to the nation’s most exceptional artists in a variety of juried categories.
Thirty experts in various media spent all day Thursday, August 19, reviewing and critiquing this year’s entries to determine the winners. The announcement of Best of Show and Best of Class winners was made public at the Best of Show Luncheon on Friday afternoon.
This year’s overall Best of Show winner is Rhonda Holy Bear’s (Cheyenne River Sioux) Doll, “Lakota Honor- Sees the Horses Woman.”
All Best of Show winners’ phenomenal artwork will be available this weekend during Santa Fe Indian Market— beginning with the Sneak Preview on Friday night from 2:00-4:00 p.m. at the Santa Fe Convention Center. This is the public’s first opportunity to see this year’s award-winning artwork. The General Preview, 4:30-6:30 p.m., immediately follows the Sneak Preview.
This year’s Best of Class winners by classification are:
Class I: Jewelry
Denise Wallace (Chugach Sugpiaq)
“Origins, Roots and Sources”
Class II: Pottery
Robert Patricio (Pueblo of Acoma)
“Raining Dawn to Dusk”
Class III: Painting, Drawing, Graphics & Photography
Thomas Tapia (Pueblo of Tesuque)
Watercolor, “Buffalo Elk Dance”
Class IV: Wooden Pueblo Figurative Carving & Sculpture
Arthur Holmes Jr. (Hopi)
Carving, “Broken Arrow”
Class V: Sculpture
Raymond Chee Sr. (Navajo/Diné)
Sculpture, “Healing into the Night”
Class VI: Textiles
Tyler Glasses (Navajo/ Diné)
Weaving, “Poncho for Days”
Class VII: Diverse Arts
Dana Warrington (Menominee/ Potawatomi)
Taxidermy, Otter wearing leather, quillwork, beadwork, lapidary, silver, weaving and feathers.
“Defending the Homeland”
Class VIII: Beadwork & Quillwork
Rhonda Holy Bear (Cheyenne River Sioux)
Doll, “Lakota Honor-Sees the Horses Woman”
International Partnership Unites North American Indigenous Fashion Leaders
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Santa Fe, NM; June 17, 2021: SWAIA Fashion, the highly acclaimed and largest Native North American fashion show which takes place annually during Santa Fe Indian Market, is proud to announce a partnership between SWAIA Indigenous Fashion, Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto (IFWTO), Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week (VIFW) and the newly established Supernaturals Modelling Agency.
Together, the four organizations will strengthen the international impact and visibility of Indigenous fashion design, embracing IFWTO’s mission: “presenting works that celebrate Indigenous people and cultures, and welcoming innovative and meaningful expression, design and craftsmanship from designers.”
The alliance will convene at SWAIA’s 2021 Santa Fe Indian Market with Joleen Mitton of VIFW and Supernaturals Modelling Agency (co-founded by Patrick Shannon), Executive and Artistic Director Sage Paul of IFWTO and Amber-Dawn Bear Robe of SWAIA Fashion. The relationship between these powerhouse Indigenous fashion organizations signifies the enthusiasm for and expansion of Native art and fashion.
Indigenous fashion defies the conventions of traditional Native design. Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week’s mission is shared by the four organizations, “Contemporary Indigenous fashion mixes the legacy of Indigenous artistry with modern day high regalia and street styles: it goes beyond surface beauty and highlights how worn identity can build connection with Indigenous values, wisdom, empowerment and history.”
SWAIA’s 2021 Fashion Show will take place on Sunday, August 22, from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Santa Fe Convention Center featuring designers Jamie Okuma (Luiseño, Shoshone Bannock), Orlando Dugi (Diné), Pamela Baker (Squamish/Kwakwaka’wakw) and Lauren Good Day (Arikara, Hidatsa, Blackfeet and Plains Cree).
SWAIA Fashion is expanding this year. On Saturday, August 21, SWAIA’s Annual Gala will feature new collections by Delina White (Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe) of I Am Anishinaabe, Yolanda Skelton (Gitxsan Nation) and Loren (Acoma Pueblo) and Valentina (Navajo) Aragon of Acanoc. Supernaturals Modelling Agency will be represented on the runway at both fashion shows.
Media Inquiries:
Audrey N. Rubinstein | METTA
505-490-5029 or audrey@themettaagency.com
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About SWAIA Fashion:
SWAIA Fashion is the annual Fashion Show produced during Santa Fe Indian Market by curator and art historian Amber-Dawn Bear Robe (Siksika Nation). Bear Robe has presented and curated the fashion show, since 2014. Learn more at SWAIA Fashion
