Best of Show Announcement and the bead work that won

You already know that Dallin Maybee, Seneca/Arapaho, won Best of Show in the 86th annual SWIAI Santa Fe Indian Market art awards.

But have you seen the announcement? Click on this video to see it.



Have you had a close look at the work itself. Click on this video to see a pan across the beautiful bead work that won.


These video "snapshots" from Santa Fe Indian Market 2007 are presented by William Ernest Waites, co-owner with Susanne Waites of Aboriginals: Art of the First Person and the galleries associated web sites at ZuniLink, for outstanding Native American "fetish" carvings, Native-JewelryLink, for beautiful Native American Indian jewelry, Native-PotteryLink, for the finest in hand-made Native American and Pueblo Indian pottery, and TribalWorks, for Navajo folk art, arctic art, and Australian Aboriginal art and African Tribal Art.

Black Eagle singers from Jemez perform at Indian Market Art Awards

Among the highlights of the SWIAI 2007 Santa Fe Indian Market Awards presentation was this blessing by the Jemez Pueblo Black Eagle singers.





We hope you enjoy it as much as we did. We have often heard singers and drummers from a distance at various pow wows. It is something more moving to be standing on the edge of the circle.

SWAIA SANTA FE INDIAN MARKET BEST OF CLASS AWARDS

As promised, here is a video (partial) of the Best of Class Awards being announced at the Santa Fe Indian Market Art Awards. This partial video includes IAIA Distinguished Alumni - America Meredith (Cherokee),
Jewelry - Ric Charlie (Navajo),
Pottery - Rainy Naha (Hopi).

Painting, etc - William B. Franklin - Navajo,
Wooden Pueblo Carvings - Kevin Sekakuku (Hopi),

Beadwork/Quill Work - Dallin Maybee (Seneca/Northern Arapaho),

Helen Naha Memorial Award - Gloria Kahe (Navajo) (Picture not available).

More Art Award videos will be coming in future blog messages. Thank you for your attention.


This coverage of Indian Market 2007 is brought to you by writer, William Ernest Waites, who also co-owns Aboriginals Gallery with Susanne Waites, and associated web sites at ZuniLink, Native-JewelryLink, Native-PotteryLink and TribalWorks

Dallin Maybee receives Best of Show Award at 2007 Santa Fe Indian Market.

Santa Fe, NM August 17, 20007: Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA) tonight announced that the Best of Show winner of the 86th Annual Indian Market artist awards program for 2007 is Dallin Maybee, (Seneca/Norther Arapaho), whose winning entry was two panels of bead work done in ledger book style as the cover for a children’s book. One panel represents a mother and child and the second represents a father son, with horses as the theme because horses have been so important to native people. This entry also won Best of Classification for Bead Work & Quill Work.

Dallin Maybee with his Best of Show winning work.

Additional "Best of" awards were awarded to Philander Begay (Navajo), Artist's Choice - Peer award for exceptional innovative work in any media, for a silver concho belt; Ric Charlie (Navajo) for Best of Classification - Jewelry; Rainy Naha (Hopi) for Best of Classification - Pottery; W.B. Franklin ( Navajo) for Best of Classification - Paintings, Drawings, Graphics & Photography; Kevin Sekakuku (Hopi) for Best of Classification - Wooden Pueblo Figurative Carvings & Sculpture; Anthony Begay (Navajo) for Best of Classification - Sculpture; Melissa Darden (Chitimacha) for Best of Classification - Textiles & Basketry; Jamie Okuma (Shoshone Bannock/Luiseno) for Best of Classification - Diverse Art Forms; Chris Youngblood Cutler (Santa Clara Pueblo) for Best of Classification - Youth (17 years and under); Gloria Kahe (Navajo) for Helen Naha Award; Chandler Goodstrike (Gros Ventre) for Indian Arts Fund Award; and America Meredith (Cherokee) for IAIA Distinguished Alumni Award - for Excellence in Contemporary Native American Arts. Six of the winning artists were available at the presentation and announcement. They are pictured below. (L-R) Ric Charlie, Melissa Darden, Dallin Maybee, Jamie Okuma, Chris Youngblood Cutler, America Meredith

More pictures and Indian Market news will follow in subsequent blog messages.

Thanks for your interest.
Posted by William Ernest Waites, Eyewriter, and Susanne Waites, Aboriginals Gallery.

Gallup Inter-Tribal Ceremonial Top Arts Winners

The top winners of the 2007 Gallup (NM) Inter-Tribal Ceremonial Arts and Crafts Awards were announced this week.

Best of Show was awarded to Grace Nez for a large, any technique or style, over 45 square feet.

Best of Class Awards were given by the judges to the following entries –

Ron Bedonie for Metalsmithing/ Fabricated from sheet and wire/ Woman’s Belt.
Ernest Benally for Lapidary Arts/ Mosaic Inlay/ Matched set, ladies.
Edith Tsabetsaye for Lapidary Arts/ Needlepoint/ Ring.
Rosanne Ghate for Tribal Arts/ Dolls and Utilitarian Items/ Dolls, beaded or quill.
John King for Paintings/ Traditional Native American.
R.H. Goodluck for Sculpture/ Stone Sculpture/ Stone, over 24”, largest dimension. This entry also received a Special Award.
Damian Toya for Pottery/ Traditional Pueblo Carved Pottery/ Wedding vases, canteens, vases and traditional shapes not listed, any size.
Linda Hendrix for Baskets/ Coiled Technique/Tohono O’odham, 3” to 15”.

Best of Category awards were granted as follows:

Lorraine Begay Manavi for Textiles/Tapestry/80 Threads or more per vertical inch - Hand-spun, Native Wool, Natural Colors.
Elizabeth Begay for Textiles/ Tapestry/80 Threads or more per vertical inch - Natural-Like Colors.
Ella Rose Perry for Textiles/Tapestry/Less then 15 square inches - Hand-spun, Native Wool, Natural Dyes.
Ellen Begay for Textiles/Synthetic Dyes/Red Rug, 15 to 45 square feet.
Helena Nez for Textiles/Pictorial/Sandpainting Rug, 15 to 45 square feet, also received a Special Award.
Judy Marianito for Textiles/Innovations/Woven goods, Wool or cotton, Kilts, Dressss and Skirts.
Lula Brown for Textiles/Minature Weavings – Any set of miniature weavings individually smaller than 12” x 12”.
Jonathon C. Cordero for Kachinas & Carved Wooden Figures/Kachina dolls carved of cottonwood/ Figures over 12” in height/ Pueblo carvers only.
Marlin Pinto for Kachinas & Carved Wooden Figures/ Non-Kachina figures carved of cottonwood/ Figure over 8”, but less than 12” high/Pueblo carvers only.
Alfred Lomahquahu for Kachinas & Carved Wooden Figures/ Concept of cottonwood/Pueblo carvers only.
Lawrence Jaquez for Kachinas & Carved Wooden Figures/ Non-Pueblo figures/Non-Pueblo carvers only/ Non-Pueblo figures/ Figure over 8”, but less than 12” high.
Harrison Jim for Metal Smithing/ Tufa, Sand or Lost Wax Casting/ Squash Blossom, also received a Special award.
Clarence Lee for Metalsmithing/ Overlay and Applique/ Belt.
D. Cadman for Metalsmithing/ Flatware, Hollowware, Boxes/ Boxes with lid.
Benson Manygoats for Lapidary Arts/ Channel Inlay/ Necklace or choker.
Glenda Eriacho for Lapidary Arts/ Cluster/ Matched set, ladies.
Jeff Tsalabutie for Lapidary Arts/ Lapidary Arts Not Mounted/ Fetish carving, less than 3”, largest dimension.
Pearl Sewemaenewa for Baskets/ Wicker Techniques/ Hopi, 3” to 15” .
Alberta Selina for Baskets/ Miniature Baskets/ Any item.
Virginia Ballenger for Tribal Arts/ Wearing Apparel and Accessories/ Dresses, cloth, not beaded.
Duane Dishta for Tribal Arts/ Ceremonial Items/ Drums, pueblo or plains.
Randy Keedah, Sr. for Paintings/ Representational, all media/ Landscape.
Peterson Yazzie for Paintings/ Contemporary Style, all media/ Landscape.
James King for Paintings & Sculpture/ Miniatures, any media/ Animal subjects.
Joe Ben for Paintings & Sculpture/ Sandpaintings/ Non-ceremonial subject matter.
Charles Pratt for Sculpture& Pottery/ Metal Sculpture/ Cast metal, 18” to 36” .
Troy Sice for Sculpture & Pottery/ Clay, Wood, Bone & Miscellaneous Sculpture Realistic or Impressiionistic .
Joseph & Barbara Cerno for Pottery/ Traditional Pueblo Pottery, Painted/ Jars, Acoma, Laguna or Zuni, matte or polished surface, over 8”, largest dimension, also received a Special Award.
Delores Curran for Pottery/ Non-Traditional Pottery/ Jars, over 2” largest.
Thomas Natseway for Pottery/ Miniature Pottery Less than 2"/ Non-traditional forms.
Susie Crank for Pottery/ Navajo Traditional Pottery/ Jars, over 2” but less than 8” largest dimension.
Ralph Claw for Pottery/ Navajo Pottery, Non-Traditional/ Jars, over 2” but less than 8” largest dimension.

Some 650 ribbons were awarded to these and other 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners, making it impractical to post all the winners in this message. Nevertheless, each ribbon winner is saluted for their accomplishment.

This report has been posted, based on information provided by the Gallup Inter-Tribal Ceremonial organization, by William Ernest Waites, writer, tribal art collector and co-owner with his wife, Susanne Waites, of the online galleries of aboriginals: Art of the First Person, including ZuniLink, Native-JewelryLink, Native-PotteryLink and TribalWorks

Intertribal Ceremonial 2007 – I Love a Parade

The parade is only one aspect of the Inter-tribal Ceremonial, with its home venue at Red Rocks State Park, just east of Gallup, off of fabled Route 66. Even more important to the Native American artists is the juried art show. Hundreds of categories and classes encourage potters, painters, jewelry makers, carvers, sculptors, weavers and basket weavers. We’ll be posting a list of the winners in a separate message.

We already know that Jeff Tsalabutie took a best of class award for a bear fetish carving in in lapis lazuli. More about all this in the future.

William Ernest Waites and Susanne Waites are in New Mexico for Indian Market. They made a side trip to Gallup and Zuni to celebrate at the Intertribal Ceremonial and to acquire new fetish carvings and jewelry from the artists at the incredibly productive and talented Zuni Pueblo. These will soon be posted to the ZuniLink and Native-JewelryLink online web galleries.

Thank you for visiting.

Backstage at Santa Fe Opera : How do they do it?

On Tuesday afternoon, Susanne and I showed up for a tour of the Santa Fe Opera venue. Docents divided the 40-some guests that had arrived for the tour into three groups of twelve. Our docent and her docent-in-training assistant started us off in the big bucks seats. Down in the first few rows, they go $150 (est) each .

Immediately in front of the first row of seats, separating them from the stage, is a open-top tank filled with water. The docent assures us that it is not a “moat” designed to protect the cast from the audience, or vice versa. It was installed when the original stage was in stalled and the entire opera “house” was open to the sky. The water provided a boost to the acoustic quality.

Every seat back in the opera house has an electronic libretto display the presents a translation of the lyrics being sung in the theatrical language of the opera – Italian, Spanish, English, German, Russian or whatever language the opera’s librettist wrote in. Audience members may choose English or Spanish translations.

The first Santa Fe Opera facility seated about 400. The current opera house, which was built to replace the original when it burned down, seats more than 2000. When rebuilt, a roof was added over the stage and the first floor of seats, also known as the orchestra.

Later, a roof also was added over the mezzanine seats. But the open air quality of the venue was not completely abandoned. The stage can be opened at the rear so that the audience can view a performance against a scenic New Mexico backdrop.

The orchestra pit is on an elevator that lowers the musicians out of sight. Similarly, there is a elevator behind the stage. It is used primarily for raising sets and props to the stage level from a loading dock. It also can be used as a device for raising cast members such as a chorus as part of a performance.

The wings of the stage have a series of doors that can be opened to allow performers to enter and leave as part of the performance. They also allow sets and props to brought onstage, important because the stage has no fly-away space for sets.

In the wings, each door has a light over it so that a performer can be cued when it is time to enter. The lights are controlled by the stage manager, whose station also controls other aspects of the performance including lighting.

Off of stage right are the dressing rooms and make-up rooms for the performers. Male majors and female majors have separate rooms that include dressers and make-up artists. We visited when La Boheme was to be performed the next evening. The performers’ hats, labeled by the name of the performer and the role he or she was playing, were on manikin heads on shelves above the dressing table and make-up mirrors.

The dressing rooms for the minor male and females, are larger rooms but do not include dressers or make-up artists. Each performer is expected to dress himself or herself and apply their own make-up. Behind the dressing rooms is the costume shop where are fabrics cut and dyed, costumes sewn, and stored between performances.

Behind that is the wig room. As one would imagine, wigs play a large role in operas, with period pieces and extravagantly dramatic performances being staged. The wig master is not employed by the Santa Fe Opera but is a private contractor who is signed by the opera for the season. He has worked for several different operas. He does not have to solicit work since his reputation in the world of opera is such that the producers come to him. When his season is over at Santa Fe, he will takes his wigs to the Dallas Opera.

While almost all his wigs are made with human hair, white wigs as used in roles for judges, diplomats and males of the 17th and 18th centuries, are made from yak hair. We are told that human hair deteriorates too rapidly when dyed white.

For this season, with its variety of off-beat operas, the wig options are varied and colorful.

At the conclusion of the stage and backstage tour, we are told about the adjacent building, which replicates the main stage area of the theater itself. It is used for blocking stage movements and for rehearsal when the next opera must be rehearsed while the current opera’s sets and props are still in place. It is also the scene for a series of free talks offered to ticket holders about an hour and a half before each performance. This allows the audience to have prior knowledge of many of the night’s performance, and fits the social nature of a night at the opera, wherethose attending he opera are encouraged to bring or purchase picnic lunches and dine al fresco before the night’s performance.

William Ernest Waites and Susanne Waites, proprietors of online galleries at ZuniLink, Native-JewelryLink, Native-PotteryLInk and TribalWorks, are in Santa Fe for Indian Market, about which this blog will concern itself in the coming days. In the meantime, a visit to Santa Fe without a visit tothe Santa Fe Opera would be a shame. The Waites are scheduled to attend a performance in the next week.

Grace Wintle, owner of Blue Ridge Turquoise Mine passes.

We have received word that Grace Wintle, who owned the Blue Ridge Mine in Lander County, Nevada, with her husband, Jay, has passed on.


Grace was a legend in turquoise mining. She, inherited the mine from her father, Orvil Jack and mother, Bessie Jack. Blue Ridge was famous for beautiful blue spiderweb turquoise and for the even more striking green turquoise that took on the name of Orvil Jack. It is highly treasured among jewelry makers and lapidarists.


Grace said that her father , who moved to Nevada in 1956, didn’t really value the green turquoise early during his mining activities. She is reported as having described green turquoise as rarely found in the early years of the mine and her childhood. When it was found, it usually was thrown away.


It was only later in life that Orvil came to appreciate the beauty of the green turquoise that was named after him. That change of opinion coincided with the discovery of the a particular area with the most beautiful green stones., the bulk of which he kept in the mine’s possession, selling very little of it. Ovil passed away in 1986.


With turquoise playing such an important role in Native American jewelry, Grace’s passing represent a loss to the art and all who have used turquoise in their jewelry.


Grace Wintle will be missed by all who love turquoise, especially the beautiful Orvil Jack variety, and by all who knew her and enjoyed her stories of the early days at Blue Ridge.

Sunday, 8-3, in Santa Fe, New Mexico

The day began late, with an appointment to meet a customer, who lives in Santa Fe, to deliver a lovely small pot by Alice Cling, Navajo. (You can see more of her fine pottery here. Click on Navajo pottery.)

The customer purchased on line just before we left for New Mexico. We offered to hand-deliver it at no cost since we knew we were going to be in Santa Fe within a week (not much longer than postal delivery time anyway). We arranged to meet in front of Hagen Daz on the plaza. Everyone knows where to find Hagen Daz. (Incidentally, we also offer personal delivery of any purchase of more than $200 value within 25 miles of our home base.)


A personal delivery and an ice cream cone later, we strolled through the plaza. A craft show was underway, featuring various local artists. We found some Christmas gifts of the non-Native variety. One for Bill, which he is using already. The rest of you will have to wait until December.


We did the portico walk at the Governor’s Palace. It was a little disappointing this day in terms of the number and quality of Native artists displaying, perhaps because of the craft show competition.


Next was a visit to Keshi, one of our favorite Santa Fe shops offering Native American artwork. Salvador Romero’s friend Susan McDuffy, who is also a novelist, works there part time. They also carry Salvador’s work, one of very few galleries other than ZuniLink that does so. We always like to stop in and look around.

While dealing in Native American art is highly competitive, we have felt from our beginning that the most important objective is to help customers find what they they are looking for. If that means collaborating with potential competitors and identifying an alternative source, we prefer to make it an operation that we know and trust.


From there we wander up Don Gaspar Street past the Monroe Gallery of Photography, which catches our eyes for its remarkable exhibit, “Speaking Truth to Power”. It is not tribal in subject matter, at least, not as we would define it, but but speaks to the human tribe through photographs by Alfred Eisenstadt, Gordon Parks, Eric Smith, and others. The images cover everything from Selma, Martin Luther King, Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Nelson Mandela and funeral services for Americans who died in Iraq and were memorialized by the Patriot Riders in services in small Michigan towns. It is a very moving experience, about which we will blog separately.


A short stroll further up Don Gaspar, at the corner of San Francisco, is Andrea Fisher’s gallery. In our opinion, this is one of the most important collections of contemporary Native American pottery in the country. It is a crash course in the genre with some of the best pots by some of the most noteworthy potters of the pueblos, Navajo nation and Hopiland, plus an extensive showing of fine work from the Mexican Village of Mata Ortiz.

We noted work by many of the same potters who are represented at our online pottery site, Native-PotteryLink.


After that we drove up to Museum Hill to visit the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian and its Case Trading Post. One of the reasons we enjoy the Wheelwright is its very manageable size. Everything is historical and is displayed in a single room with a side gallery. The room is divided by partitions so that the focus is on an individual piece or group of pieces at any place in the room.

The Wheelwright tends to lean toward textiles in its items on display, although other historical pottery, carving and jewelry items are included.


The Case Trading Post also offers for sale authentic artwork by Native American artists, both the well-known and the budding. We always enjoy seeing the latest additions to their inventory and visiting with Rob, the manager, who has helped us many times when we were looking for a specific piece or information.

We look forward to the weekend of Indian market, when the Case will host several of these artists. We will report more then.


Finally, we stopped for an early supper at the French Café just off the lobby of the La Fonda de Santa Fe hotel. This is a pleasant little space offering its own French bread, dinner and desert crepes, sandwiches, coffee and, of course, French Onion Soup. Susanne ordered the latter with a house salad and I went for the chicken mushroom dinner crepe. All was more than satisfactory, and very affordable at less than $20 for the two of us, exclusive of wine, which is not offered.

We invite you to return to the blog often as we report on doings in Santa Fe during august and Indian Market.

William Ernest Waites is a free lance writer and a reporter in the field of Native American arts while also co-managing with his wife Susanne Waites, the online galleries at TribalWorks.com and Native-JewelryLIink.com

More Zuni carver pictures from Waites at ZuniLink

It occurs to me as I post this that the blog software will put this in reverse order from the blog that preceded it. This accounts for why "more"comes before the "original" list.


Not to worry. The point is to show you photos of most of the carvers we bought from this week.

Floyd Tekala


Jeff Tsalabutie
(More news about Jeff to follow)

Jeremy Peina



Kevin Soseeah


Leland Boone


Michael Mahooty


Pernell Laate


Tyrone Poncho

We also purchased carvings from a number of other artists whose photos we already have and are shown on the ZuniLink web site or who were not available for a photo at the time. Included are pieces by Lena Boone, Lynn Quam, Jayne Quam, Dee Edaakie, Emery Eriacho, Todd Westika, and Navajo Sammy Smith.

We were unable to buy from Gibbs Othole. He is the Zuni Rain Priest and between his pueblo duties and carving for Indian Market, he was not available. Bryan hattie, Jeff Tsalabutie's brother, also was not available as he was off fighting wild fires.

We will have more to report about Zuni and our new carvings at ZuniLink. Please make a point to drop by the Web site.

Zuni fetish carvers the Waites bought from this week

Greetings:
We have been poor bloggers over the last few days because of a high level of other activity and the difficulty in getting good internet connections. (Our guest house still doesn't have it reinstalled - a real bummer.)


But here is an update on our activities at Zuni Pueblo last Thursday and Friday.


We were able to meet with all of the carvers pictured below. We thought you might enjoy seeing photos of the carvers whose work you are buying.

Andres Quandelacy

Calvin Weeka


Carl Etsate

Collin Weeka

Daphne Quam



Efran Chavez



Ernie Mackel



Eugine Quandelacy



Fernando Laiwakete


In the interest of keeping each blog post to a reasonable length, I will close this album now and post a follow-up album with more pictures of the carvers we engaged this week.

Shortly, carvings from these artists and others will be posted to ZuniLink, your link to the latest and best in Zuyni and other fetish carvings. Check back.

Santo Domingo Feast Day dances. We are there.

Please note: Pueblo rules prohibit photography on the pueblo, so no photos are included. I will try to reconstruct the images from my mental impressions.)


The drum calls us from our stroll past the vendor booths lining a pueblo street. We follow through a narrow walkway to the plaza, a dry, barren space the length of two football fields. At least 1,000 dancers are moving in synchrony with the drumbeat and the chant of more than 200 singers closely clustered together. About half of the dancers are male and half are female. Almost all ages are represented, from very young to just under the aged.

It’s hot and dusty. The sun is unrelenting in its brilliance and heat. The dancers, stretching from one end of the plaza to the other, are enclosed and embraced by a riveted audience of fellow pueblo members and others who have arrived for the Feast Day.


Male dancers are wearing white, cotton, woven kilts with embroidered borders. Belt-line sashes hang to the side with cloud knots. Fox pelts are suspended from the rear belt-line. Their upper bodies and legs are painted with orange-tinted clay. A black-painted rattle is in each male dancer’s right hand. A pine branch sprig is in the left. A bandelier of shells hangs from the right shoulder to the left waist.


Women dancers are dressed in black, cotton, woven dresses (mantas) with red belt sashes. A colorful, printed cotton slip hangs below the hemline. Pine branch sprigs are held in each hand. Each is raised and lowered in sequence. They dance to the steady beat of the drum, with a stutter step, accentuated by the bells worn around the waists of the male dancers. Some women wear turquoise-colored tablitas on their heads. Many of the women have raven-black hair hanging below their waists and longer.


A single senior male holds aloft a staff of approximately 15-feet with vibrant red parrot feathers the color of flame atop. A vertical banner is attached to the staff for about half of its length. The banner is white and embroidered with a tall corn plant. The staff and it’s bearer move in front of the dancers, periodically lowering it to horizontal and passing it in a semi-circular pattern.


The dancers follow in two double rows, a pair of men followed by a pair of women, followed by a pair of women and on and on. A signal not perceptible to the hundreds of spectators, tells the male dancers to shake their rattles is unison. With another slight change in the lyrics, tempo or as part of the rehearsed dance, the dancers turn and change directions, while maintaining their double row. From time to time, the men and woman face each other and then turn so women dance behind the men.


About 200 singers accompany the single drum, vocalizing in unison. Singers also move deliberately in the stutter step of the dancers, but less vigorously. They are crowded together. They wear various colored shirts. They move as one.


By luck, we are privileged to observe from the end of the plaza where the youngest dancers are. It is a treat to watch them because they are still learning the dance and doing so by trial and error. As often as not, they turn in the wrong direction only to recover quickly and find their appointed places. The confusion and, perhaps, a little embarrassment, brings forth nervous smiles that never appear on the faces of the adult dancers. It is too innocent for words. Some of these children are no taller than my 3-year-old grandson. I can’t imagine him having enough patience and discipline to dance as they do.


At one end of the plaza, a canvas canopy with elk heads hung over the entrance, shelters and shades the pueblo elders, who sit and watch approvingly.


About a dozen males in gray, clay-coated body paint, wearing black kilts and skull caps covering their heads entirely move randomly among the dancers. They appear to be there to help dancers who lose part of their costumes and to generally encourage the dancers and keep them moving. Atop their heads, corn husks stand erect, pointing to the sky. Some of these “monitors” seem to be as absorbed in the dancing as are the other dancers. Others seem to move to their own inspiration as if in apparent supplication to the earth to provide abundance.


As the dance continues, we leave, exhausted by the sun and warmth. And we were just standing there. The stamina of the dancers is amazing to our non-Indian eyes. On our way out of the pueblo, we pass the many booths of vendors, from artists to snow cone sellers. We meet a Navajo carver we have never met before and whose work we are unacquainted with, and buy two carvings from him. One is by him, Ronald Portley, and one is by his son, Jeremy Lucero.

We pass another booth showing the carvings of Wilson Romero, Cochiti, and his son-in-law, Lionel Sanchez, San Felipe. Wilson has left for the day but Lionel tells us the nativity set carved by Wilson already has been sold. We comment on how proud we are that we were the first to suggest to Wilson that he lend his carving skills to that subject matter.

We also encounter a Santa Clara potter we had not met before, Dinah Baca. Her work, slender, black figures, remind us of pieces done by Wayne Snowbird. Whereas Wayne’s figures are more realistic and detailed, Dinah’s are more lyrical and flowing in their human forms.

We promise to look for Dinah at Indian Market in two weeks. Dinah tells us she is very “picky” about who she allows to retail her pieces, citing only close friends. We describe our history, credentials, philosophy and operation. We hope we will have the honor of offering her beautiful work. There is hope as she then invites us to be her guests at Santa Clara’s Feast Day next Sunday. This is a rare honor and we accept enthusiastically. Stay tuned for a report from that event in a week’s time.

Tribal Artery is presented by Aboriginals: Art of the First Person, with a web site at Native-PotteryLink, that offers pottery from all pueblos, including Santo Domingo and Santa Clara.

Lunch with Salvador Romero, Cochiti carver

Well, we are finally situated in our “adobe hacienda” in Santa Fe. We have learned that the area we are in is called Puesta del Sol, which our host interprets as “Where the sun lays down” in English. Indeed, the sunset from our little guest house is spectacular, yet very soothing, an unmistakable that the day is ending.



Other than that, it’s a lot like being at home – with one exception. Our broadband internet connection is not up and running. So, we are making internet runs to Kinko’s, where we can go online and grab our email. Unfortunately, after we make the trip, gear up at Kinko’s, get on line and read the email, it’s time to pack up and head back “home”.



It highlights how spontaneous our web activity is. As we sit in our cottage and an urge strikes us to search or post on line, we realize we are frustrated without an instantly available web connection. Arrrrgh…..



On the bright side, we had lunch today with Salvador Romero. We met him and his lady friend, Susan McDuffy, at a little café on Cerrillos Road where he likes to eat when in Santa Fe. He is in good health, which we were glad to see and hear. Sal told us he had a hard winter, what with extreme weather on the Cochiti Pueblo and the demands of pueblo business. He reported that many pieces were lost in production as a result of cold and snow. These are serious problems since Sal works outdoors, under a tarp suspend over a wood frame.



We are fortunate that he was able to ship about a dozen new carvings to us just a week before we left for New Mexico. We were especially pleased that this work is some of his best in our opinion. I mentioned that to him at lunch today. I was appreciative and talked about the difficulty in balancing his pueblo responsibilities with his ability to carve. I am tempted to say the former interfere with the latter. But, knowing Salvador, it would be more appropriate to say his carving occasionally interferes with his pueblo duties. It is hard to imagine someone who takes his pueblo life more seriously.



According to Sal, Feast Day on the pueblo calls for lots of preparation including the repair and creation of new headdresses each year. They are painted with homemade, non-commercial colors. After the day’s dances, the headdresses are put away.



With the most recent Feast Day behind him and fairly benevolent weather for the rest of August, Salvador agreed to take on some additional carvings for us. We look forward to seeing them later this month and bringing them back home with us.


Tribal Artery is brought to you by Aboriginals: Art of the First Person, and online tribal art gallery with websites at Zunilink, Native-JewelryLink, Native-PotteryLink and TribalWorks


Thank you visiting the blog, which is being posted from Kinko's. You're invited to visit the web sites.

Desperate need at Duck Valley Indian Reservation

The following dispatch was received concerning Duck Valley Indian Reservation.

There is a dire emergency at the Duck Valley Indian Reservation in Owyhee Nevada. It's a very isolated reservation on the Nevada/Idaho border. One of the many fires that have been burning out of control in the west devastated this little village and people are suffering without water and electricity for 5 day now with no relief in sight. Food is going bad since there is no electricity since all the power poles are burned to a crisp. The elderly and the children are taking a direct hit as water supplies dwindle and food is in short supply. Since there is no power the heat is taking its toll and there is human suffering since there has been no aid. If ever there was a time for The People to pull together it's now.

So give these people a chance to survive in this blistering heat. Give them a call and see what you can do. These are our brothers and sister who are literally baking in the hot Nevada sun. If nothing is done like soon, there will be fatalities as the elderly will soon expire from the heat and the lack of water.

This is a human tragedy in the making and they need help now. Do you think the feds will help them? Well it's been 5 days now and do the math. Lives will soon be lost if help does not get there soon. Please, Please contact them, do your bit for our relations.

Contact info: Shoshone-Paiute Tribes
Sho-Pai Fire Station
1935 FireLane PO Box 219 89832
(775)757-2473
Ask for Brent Hunter, or you may contact me here in Elko,NV, Si Thomas 775-777-7739

Hu Ho

Buffalohair

Sotheby's Paris African Art Auction

Word comes from Sotheby's of an impending auction, featuring African Forms in the Marc & Denyse Ginzberg Collection.

Session 1 is at 5:00 PM, September 10, 2007, with exhibitions starting Thursday, September 6, 2007.

Alas, you must be in or travel to Paris, France to witness or partake in it.

A reason as good as any to travel to the City of Light.

As more information becomes available, we will post it here.

In the meantime, Aboriginals: Art of the First Person, offers many examples of African tribal art forms at TribalWorks.com . William and Susanne Waites invite you to visit.

Zuni Art and Cultural Expo, August 10 - 11, 2007

Among the Native American art activities in August is the annual Zuni Art and Cultural Expo, scheduled for August 10 and 11, 2007.

Information is a little sketchy at this time but we understand it will take place at the Zuni Visitors Center on the pueblo.

Interestingly, the Zuni Art and Cultural Expo will be running at the same time the Gallup Inter-Tribal Ceremony will be taking place at Red Rocks Park, just a few miles away.

It' a good time for Native American art lovers to be in Gallup and Zuni.

This notice is a service of Aboriginals: Art of the First Person, which offers authentic Zuni art at its ZuniLink site, Native-JewelryLink site and Native-PotteryLInk site

NEW Salvador Romero Cochiti Carvings at Zuni Link

Owners William & Susanne Waites have just added a dozen new fetish carvings by Cochiti carver, Salvador Romero.

Salvador Romero is a carver of immense talent and sensitivity and very little time to carve, given his other pueblo duties. So we always consider ourselves privileged when new works come in.

ZuniLink is one of just three galleries, to our knowledge, that carry Salvador's pieces. Here are some samples of the latest.

A pair of wolves in pueblo found stone.A pair of bears in pueblo found stone.A badger in pueblo found stone.

A hawk in pueblo found stone.

Unlike Zuni carvers, who work in more formal stones such as turquoise, lapis. marble and Labradorite, Salvador's carvings come from stones he finds on the Cochiti Pueblo grounds as he walks with his dog. The animal emerges from the carving as a result of Salvador's vision as to what exists inside it. You're invited to visit Salvador's pages at ZuniLink to see and learn more.

Thank you.

Unique Concho Belt offered in SWAIA fundraiser

Over 50 and Fabulous!

Concho Belt Inspired by Indian Market Traditions

Ten jewelry stars of the Santa Fe Indian Market have come together to make one extraordinary piece: the “Over 50 and Fabulous” concho belt that will be sold to the highest bidder at the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts’ (SWAIA) annual fundraising auction.

Inspired by the collaborative concho belt created in 2001 (which featured up and coming jewelers and also holds the title as the first collaborative piece SWAIA made available) this belt instead honors a group comprised of “over 50” jewelers who have earned reputations as some of the finest jewelers in the country.

Each concho reflects the unique style of each artist, but when placed together form a one-of-a-kind, museum quality piece. Artists include Martine Lovato (Santo Domingo Pueblo), Gibson Nez (Navajo), Richard Chavez (San Felipe Pueblo), Naveek (Navajo), Jake Livingston (Navajo), Jennie Vicenti (Zuni Pueblo), Harvey Begay (Navajo), Victoria Adams (Southern Cheyenne), and ranger set by Michael NanaPing Garcia (Pascua Yaqui). Edith Tsabetsaye (Zuni) will also be donating a concho.

Michael NanaPing Garcia, Vice-Chair of the SWAIA Board, thought of the idea as a member of the auction gala committee. “This gives someone the chance to purchase a piece by some of the master jewelers of the 21st century, while also supporting the organization that sustains the livelihood of over 1100 artists nationwide.”

This is a once-in-a lifetime chance to bid on this amazing piece! For more information on the SWAIA auction gala and how you can attend, please call 505.983.5220. Tickets are $135/person or $1250/table of ten and sell out quickly. To preview the concho belt, plus additional items that will be available at the auction, please visit: www.swaia.org/live_auction_items.php.

Gallup Intertribal Scheduled for August 2007

August 8, 2007 will see the opening of the 86th Annual Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial at Red Rocks Park.

The Exhibit Hall will open at the Red Rocks Convention Center at 7:00 PM.

Thursday, August 9, 2007 the Grounds will open at 9:00 Am and remain open until 10:00 PM. A Ceremonial Night parade will take place in downtown Gallup starting at 9:00 PM.

Grounds will open again on August 10, 2007 at 1000 AM. The PowWow Grand Entry will occur from 7:00 PM until 12:00 midnight.

Grounds will open again at 9:00 AM on August 11, 2007, followed by a Ceremonial Parade atv10:00 AM in downtown Gallup.

The Grounds will open again on Sunday August 12, 2007 at 6:30 Am and the Inter-Tribal will close at 10:00 PM that night.

Tribal Artery will be blogging from Gallup for most of the Inter-Tribal. Subscribe now to an RSS feed to stay up to date on happenings at the Inter-Tribal in Gallup, NM.

Here Comes Santa Fe Indian Market

Southwest Association for Indian Arts has announced the schedule for the 2007 Santa Fe Indian Market.

This is almost indisputably the most important exhibit, presentation and competition concerning Native American Indian art in the world.

August 13, 2007 - The Indian Market Benefit at Vanessie Restaurant.
4:30 PM till close

August 17, 2007 - Press Reception for the Award winning Artists. -
4:00 PM - El Museo Cultural de Santa Fe

August 17, 2007 - Award Winners Best of Show Announcement. -
4:30 PM - El Museo Cultural de Santa Fe

August 17, 2007 - Sneak preview of Award Winning Works. -
5:30 PM - El Museo Cultural de Santa Fe

August 17, 2007 - General Preview of Award Winning Art. -
7:30 PM - El Museo Cultural de Santa Fe


August 18, 2007 - Indian Market Commences. -
7:00 AM - The Streets of Santa Fe

August 18, 2007 - Santa Fe Indian Market Gala Auction. -
5:00 PM - La Fonda Hotel

August 19, 2007 - Day Two of Indian Market. -
8:00 AM - The Streets of Santa Fe

August 19, 2007 - Native American Clothing Contest. -
9:00 AM to 12:00 noon - Santa Fe Plaza Gazebo

Tribal Artery will be blogging from Santa Fe Indian Market, including announcements of winners and interviews as they are available.

Now is a good time to subscribe to a feed from Tribal Artery to get the up-to-date news about Indian Market 2007. Simply click on one of the blog feed icons in the right hand sidebar of this blog.