Problems at the Portal

Three Native American artists, Glenn Paquin (Laguna Pueblo jeweler), Allen Bruce Paquin (Jemez Pueblo jeweler) and Merton Sisnero (Santa Clara Pueblo potter), have filed suit against the Museum of New Mexico officials concerning their removal from the Portal Vendors Association.

The suit charges that Cultural Affairs Secretary Stuart Ashman expelled the three from the association's advisory committee in January, 2006. At the time of removal Ashman claimed he was acting as a result of a petition signed by 200 artists who claimed the three did not live up to their responsibilities, according to the Indian Trader, a Gallup, NM, based weekly newspaper.

We have featured the Portal, which sits outside the Museum of New Mexico's Governor's Palace in Santa Fe, in previous blog postings. It is one of our favorite places to browse when in Santa Fe. We see a wide array of vetted work by credentialed artists and have met some of our favorite artist there in the past.

We hope the dispute is settled fairly and harmoniously.