Two In One
The San Francisco Tribal and Textile Show merged with American Indian Art Show merged into a mega art fair for tribal and Native art February 21 to 23
It was a weekend of beauty and art objects from around the world as the 34th annual San Francisco Tribal and Textile Art Show joined forces for the first time with the 36th annual American Indian Art Show February 21 to 23 at the Fort Mason Center in San Francisco. The new fair felt strong and energized as collectors packed the venue on both days to acquire historic and contemporary works.
“The fair-goers range from collectors looking for their next masterpiece to interior designers buying art and textiles for clients to people interested in culture wanting to find a special piece for their homes,” says Kim Martindale, co-founder of the show.
Noted American Indian art dealers participating in this year’s fair included Trotta-bono, Faust Gallery, Waddell Trading, Mark
Winters, Blue Rain Gallery, Turkey Mountain Traders and Cowboys and Indians. Contemporary artists include Baje Whitehorne Sr., Terrance Guardipee and Andrea Vargas.
The fair opened to the public on Saturday at 11 a.m. and exhibitors were greeted with a line at the door of people waiting to get in. That enthusiasm continued throughout the day with packed aisles and standing room only lectures.
Three special exhibits wowed the visitors. At the entrance to the show was The Casspir Project’s apartheid-era Casspir vehicle, SPOEK 1, that has been restored and reclaimed and covered in 70 million brightly colored glass beads to turn the symbol of tyranny into a spectacularly adorned sculpture. Another exhibition was Variations on a Loom: The J.B. Moore Collection, the world’s largest collection of JB Moore weaving to be on public display for the first time.
“It was non-stop busy for the opening,” said exhibitor Lee Chinalai of Chinalai Antiques, “and the clothing was wildly popular with old and new fans of the artists buying.”