AROUND THE PLAZA
With gorgeous weather and energetic buyers, SWAIA’S Santa Fe Indian Market returns for its 98th year.
With gorgeous weather and energetic buyers, SWAIA’S Santa Fe Indian Market returns for its 98th year.
Smiling faces are always wonderful to see no matter where you are in the world, but when you see smiles on the artists at Santa Fe Indian Market that’s a sign that good things are happening. And when they start beaming, that’s a sign of something even better—sales.
Not only was this year’s market packed to the gills with people—collectors, enthusiasts, day-trippers from around Santa Fe, weekenders from around all around the Southwest and we even met an adventurous couple who came all the way from Germany—it was encouraging to see people buying Native American art. And buying frequently. By noon on the first day a number of artists had already packed up and went home because they had sold out, a good problem to have on market day.
Hopi carver Donald Sockyma was one of those who went from a full inventory of pieces to almost nothing in the course of just a few hours. “I started with 13 pieces, and now I have two. It’s the first day, so I’m very happy,” he said, smiling it should be noted, from his booth. “It definitely seems more crowded. Lots of people have come up to say they saw my work in the magazine, so I’m excited that my work is getting out there. It’s been a good day. A very good day.”
As crowds stretched out in every direction—marketgoers in the plaza were almost shoulder to shoulder, and a seemingly endless stream of people could be seen working their way up Lincoln Avenue—dancers and musicians could be found at several intersections, as well as on the plaza stage, which played host to
a fashion show, discussions on issues related to Native American women, and dancers of all varieties, including fancy dancers, hoop dancers, elk dancers and crown dancers.
Nearby at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center, programming included a kick-off party, the IM: EDGE party, a gala and live auction, and the hugely popular Indian Market Haute Couture Fashion Show, which this year brought out a sold-out crowd in the thousands to see roughly a dozen designers present their newest collections. Adding to the official events were countless openings, exhibitions and shows at nearby galleries, museums and hotels. Seemingly every street led to new surprises, whether it was a pottery show at King Galleries, dealer fairs at several different venues, a carving demonstration at Lyn A. Fox Fine Pueblo Pottery, a DJ spinning music at the IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts or a hip-hop show with Rezcoast Grizz at La Fonda. Market weekend proves that a city can never have too many events.
Another inspiring aspect of this year’s market, dubbed the Year of the Woman, was the rallying cry by, for and on behalf of Native American women. This was abundantly clear at the gala, where speakers included Joy Harjo, the first Native American United States Poet Laureate, and New Mexico congresswoman Deb Haaland, who tied with a Kansas representative to become the first Native American women elected to Congress. Even many of the artist booths were filled with works dedicated to the courage, resilience and determination of Native American women.
Already there is abuzz for next year’s Santa Fe Indian Market, which will be the 99th annual market. The countdown to 100 has already begun.