Filling a void
Wheelwright’s Case Trading Post inaugural holiday market features established artists
Showcasing everything from pottery to jewelry, painting and carvings, the Case Trading Post is launching its inaugural holiday show on Santa Fe’s Museum Hill on Saturday, Nov. 30.
The Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian has gathered more than 40 artists from across New Mexico and Arizona to sell their work in a free two-day, post-Thanksgiving show.
The event will feature many recognizable artists who have become famous in their fields. Case Trading Post manager Ken Williams designed the event to bring patrons to the museum and to give artists an opportunity for sales. He asked the artists to bring small works to accent affordability.
“I extended it to the trading post artists I’ve worked with,” he said, “and then I extended an open call, and we sold out
(booths) immediately.”
All profits will go to the artists.
Contemporary Cochiti Pueblo painter Mateo Romero will bring his landscapes and mixedmedia pieces; Jemez Pueblo storyteller artist Felicia Fragua will bring her clay figures, as will Acoma Pueblo potter Sharon Lewis; Santo
Domingo Pueblo jewelry artist Angie Reano Owen will bring her inlaid mosaics and Navajo silver master Norbert Peshlakai will sell his hand-stamped pins, pots and jewelry.
“He was the first artist to pay,” Williams said with a laugh. “I hadn’t even set it in stone yet. Norbert was kind of my inaugural artist.”
Famed Santo Domingo (Kewa) revivalist potter
Robert Tenorio is on the list, as are innovative jewelry artists Yazzie Johnson and Gail Bird. (Navajo/Santo Domingo/ Laguna). Zuni carver Robert Weahkee will bring traditional fetishes inspired by the work of his late father Anderson Weahkee and aunt Lena Boone. Hopi carvers Kevin, Mavasta, Richard and Ron Honyouti will sell their katsinas and wooden boxes.
Santa Clara Pueblo’s Tewa Tees will sell T-shirts and bags; Than Povi will bring artworks from San Ildefonso Pueblo.
“This is a slow time between (Santa Fe) Indian Market and the Heard” (Indian Fair & Market in March), Williams said. “I thought, ‘Why not tap into Thanksgiving weekend?’ ”