Blending Past and Present
The San Francisco-based American Indian Art Show and Tribal & Textile Art Show shift to an online format for 2021.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
Last year, Objects of Art Shows LLC made the decision to combine two of its mainstay events, traditionally held a week apart at different venues, into one weekend that allowed collectors the opportunity to explore additional offerings of contemporary and historic artwork. The 37th annual American Indian Art Show|san Francisco and the 35th annual San Francisco Tribal & Textile Show will again shift gears to an online format for 2021 in response to the pandemic, and as a way to ensure the health and safety of exhibitors and attendees. This year’s shows will take place February 24 through 28 in an online format.
The American Indian Art Show|san Francisco will have more than 50 participating exhibitors that will present contemporary and historic Native American artwork, as well as Spanish Colonial and Pre-columbian pieces. Among those showcasing work will be Buffalo Barry’s Indian Art, Four Winds Gallery, Frank Hill Tribal Arts, KR Martindalde Gallery, John C. Hill Antique Indian Art, KR Martindale Gallery, Miles & Miles Trading and Steve Eldmore Indian Art. Artwork will include katsina, jewelry, textiles and more from historic and contemporary artists, providing a well-rounded offering for buyers looking to enhance or start their collections.
The Tribal & Textile event has an international focus, with works from Africa, Asia, Australia and Oceania in the mix. There will be over 50 dealers from around the world exhibiting their work online including Atelier Daniell, John Ruddy Textile Art, Trotta-bono, Toby Herbst Antiques, Oriental Treasure Box, Leonard Kalina Fine Arts and Dancing Threads.
Kicking off the shows will be virtual benefit previews on February 24 for any guests who pay $25 to be among the very first collectors to view and purchase works for the show. This year 100 percent of the preview proceeds will go to Blessingway, a nonprofit created in 2016, administered by Mark and Linda Winter of Todalena Trading Post, with the mission of offering aid to the Navajo Nation.
“This year, with the challenges of the COVID-19
pandemic, Blessingway has been working extremely hard to provide for the increased needs of the Native community around Toadlena,” Objects of Art LLC explains. “The proceeds from the Benefit Preview, which run through Native Art New Mexico, will go to a program that distributes hundreds of relief packages monthly to the Diné people including flour, coffee, canned goods and PPE as well as feed for sheep and livestock.”
Collectors will be able to access the passwordprotected previews through the show websites, with the American Indian Art Show available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time and the San Francisco Tribal & Textile Art Show available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pacific Time. Free general admission begins the next day, February 25 at 10 a.m. Pacific Time, and will continue through February 28 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.
In future years, in addition to the physical shows at Fort Mason in San Francisco, the virtual component will be a permanent feature. Kim Martindale, who owns and produces the shows with John Morris, says, “There are some real upsides to doing the shows virtually. It will make it possible for some showgoers and exhibitors who haven’t been able to travel in the past to see, buy and sell the work online. We are also projecting an even larger attendance for the virtual events than at past physical venues. We’re all striving to find creative new ways during this time for our exhibitors and art lovers to connect.”