Santa Fe Indian Market a Smashing Success, Even During the Pandemic
It is the largest Native arts festival in the world and despite all of the precautions taken to help stop the spread of the coronavirus, Santa Fe’s Indian Market wrapped up its 99th edition in a spirit of celebration.
Sure, we heard people remarking that in previous years it was so crowded that you could barely walk through the streets of the historic Plaza area, lined with the booths of artists showcasing everything from pottery, painting and sculpture to jewelry, clothing and textiles– in styles ranging from contemporary to traditional to avant-garde.
Market organizer SWAIA (Southwestern Association for Indian Arts) had to limit the number of exhibitors during the weekend of August 21 and 22 – and the crowds, with timed tickets – because of the pandemic but you could look at it this way: last year, the entire event was canceled because of Covid-19.
Yet the difficult decision to restrict the number of participants spurred expansion of several other free markets in the area, along with a plethora of museum and gallery showcases. There were also artists’ booths set up in hotels including the Eldorado and La Fonda.
This was our first year attending and we were still overwhelmed by the sheer number of artists set up on the streets of Santa Fe, artists who came to the New Mexico capital from all over the United States and Canada.
Many though did not have far to travel, like jeweler Nelson Garcia of Santo Domingo Pueblo who had an astounding array of fine turquoise and silver earrings, bracelets, rings and necklaces.
Our experience started off with a preview of the best of the show with an exhibit inside the Convention Center that gave us the scope of the tremendous artistry being displayed. Participants at the event were able to bid in a silent auction of the year’s best artwork before the market opened the next day. Collectors throughout the world could also place their bids through the SWAIA website.
There were a number of other events surrounding the market including the biggest of the bunch: the annual gala reception, fashion show and live auction, held Saturday night at the Convention Center.
The live auction featured exclusive creations from featured artists Jamie Okuma, Jeremy Frey, Eugene Tapahe, Jason Brown, James Ebelacker, Marietta and Melvin Juanico and Maria Samora.
As the market wrapped up the next day we were sad to miss the Eighth Annual Indigenous Fashion Show featuring Native designers, which was followed by an exclusive shopping event for attendees.
There’s always next year, which will be a big one – the Centennial of the Santa Fe Indian Market on the Plaza.
