If you live in or near Santa Fe, or could be in the area in August, you might find volunteering at the 88th Annual Santa Fe Indian Market a "hoot."
The Southwest Association for Indian Art, the organization that stages this annual extravaganza of authentic Indian art, has put out a call for volunteers.
The Santa Fe Indian Market depends on dedicated volunteers to realize its success. Hundreds of volunteers from across the country make the annual journey to Santa Fe to be a part of Indian Market.
"From the Sneak Preview of Award Winning Art to the Native American Clothing Contest, volunteers provide instrumental support to SWAIA staff and Indian Market artists. One thing that may not be evident to the casual observer is the connection that volunteers develop with the Indian Market itself. Volunteers positively affect the livelihoods of Native artists by managing the myriad of details involved with producing Indian Market, so that artists are afforded the opportunity to concentrate fully on sharing their magnificent artwork.
Time is moving swiftly as we prepare for the 88th Annual Santa Fe Indian Market which will be held on August 22 - 23, 2009, with volunteer preparation activities on August 17 - 21, 2009. It is the ideal time to join the SWAIA volunteer program. Please consider joining us to celebrate Native arts during this historic Santa Fe event."
For a complete list of volunteer opportunities and to apply online please visit www.swaia.org or call 505.983.5220 and ask for Cheryl James or Gomeo Bobelu.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aboriginals: Art of the First Person is a member of SWAIA and a strong supporter of Indian Market and the artists who exhibit and sell there. We also encourage fans of Native American art to volunteer. You will find the experience stimulating. The work of the artists also appears on the web pages at ZuniLink.com, Native-JewelryLink.com, Native-PotteryLink.com and TribalWorks.com. Whether shopping or just browsing, you are invited to visit these web sites and visually sample these beautiful works of art.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Tribal Art - Saving antiquity, one eBay sale at a time.
Archaeologists, museums and preservers of ancient cultural heritage have long fretted over people who entered centers of pre-historic activity and looted items to sell to collectors and dealers, with no concern for the way the item was discovered and acquired. They have been concerned that important links to our past were being destroyed or removed from the cultural context required to understand them.
With eBay and web marketing blossoming, these guardians of our history became fearful that looters would be encouraged to steal and damage more. eBay would make it easier to sell their booty more easily.
In a recent article in Archaeology Magazine, Charles Stanish has offered up a different vision of eBay's influence on the market for stolen artifacts. Stanish, who is director of the Archaeological Institute of America, reports that eBay has had an opposite effect.
By popularizing the collection of artifacts and facilitating the sale of "fakes", eBay has encouraged a trade in manufactured fakes at prices so low that there is little or no profit in the hard work of stealing and taking the real thing to market.
In the wake of this, individual craftspeople have begun to make reproductions that are so good they even fool the "experts". They also create objects that are not identical copies but reflect the design elements and use authentic materials in ways that make them collectibles in their own right. They can be acquired at prices that provide competition to real, authentic items looted from graves sites and archaeological digs.
As with so many things in life, the side effects often are more significant than the intended purpose.
The referenced article is oriented to antiquities and artifacts from Andean cultures. But the observations are equally applied to other fields of study and collection of material culture. For example, there is a continuing, occasionally incendiary, discussion on certain websites about African Tribal Art. What is authentic, what is antique and what is new and made for market?
And how can you tell?
One indicator, in my opinion, is the price. If you see an item offered in the semi-anonymous realm of eBay at a ridiculously low price, chances are almost absolute that it is a fake or, to be more polite in some cases, a reproduction.
Even works that have been authenticated by curators and other people paid for their expertise can be less than they are presented as. Increasingly, these "experts" are being trained with fakes that are presented to them as authentic.
At one time, certain testing regimens would reveal if something is genuine or not. That too is becoming less reliable as crafts-people have learned how to use materials identical those used in the making of the item 1,000 years ago.
Moving to the area of Native American Indian art, eBay has taken steps to prevent some items from being misrepresented as Native American in origin. They required sellers to specify the tribal relationship and name of the artist for any piece represented as being made after 1934. Do you see the problem here? The prohibition does not apply to items claimed to have been created prior to 1934.
There are other protections. For items that are pre-historic or historic, Federal regulations require proof of legitimate acquisition. Items taken from public lands are contraband and may not be sold unless acquired prior to the enactment of laws protecting property that rightfully belongs to the public. For more recent items presented as Native American-made, the Indian Arts & Crafts Act applies. This is the law eBay cites to justify their requirements for posting contemporary Native American art.
There are other helpful resources.
o The Indian Arts & Crafts Association requires members to accurately represent items they sell. Members agree, upon penalty of expulsion, not to identify anything as Native American-made unless it is, in fact, made by Native Americans.
o Another resource is the Antique Tribal Art Dealers Association. This group has a stringent code of responsibility for correct identification of items offered for sale by members.
o There also are some discussion groups on Yahoo that are frequented by people with a lot of experience in artifact identification. One of them, artifakesgroup@yahoo.com, regularly highlights items, especially bead work, offered on eBay that members believe to be misrepresented.
Finally, one of your best protections is to work with dealer that you trust (membership in organization such as IACA and ATADA can be guides). Even then, there may be problems. Stanish tells of a dealer he went to in La Paz, Bolivia. He told the owner that many of her pieces were fake. Her reaction was one of anger. He then went through the displayed pieces and pronounced them "fake" or "real". Hooked by the author's apparent expertise, the owner decided to prove him wrong by grabbing one he had identified as "real" and telling him it was "fake" too.
The article, available on line, is an informative and entertaining read.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aboriginals: Art of the First Person, with web sites at ZuniLink.com, Native-JewelryLink.com, Native-PotteryLink.com and TribalWorks.com, deals in authentic, guaranteed tribal art. We support the protection of items of native patrimony.
With eBay and web marketing blossoming, these guardians of our history became fearful that looters would be encouraged to steal and damage more. eBay would make it easier to sell their booty more easily.
In a recent article in Archaeology Magazine, Charles Stanish has offered up a different vision of eBay's influence on the market for stolen artifacts. Stanish, who is director of the Archaeological Institute of America, reports that eBay has had an opposite effect.
By popularizing the collection of artifacts and facilitating the sale of "fakes", eBay has encouraged a trade in manufactured fakes at prices so low that there is little or no profit in the hard work of stealing and taking the real thing to market.
In the wake of this, individual craftspeople have begun to make reproductions that are so good they even fool the "experts". They also create objects that are not identical copies but reflect the design elements and use authentic materials in ways that make them collectibles in their own right. They can be acquired at prices that provide competition to real, authentic items looted from graves sites and archaeological digs.
As with so many things in life, the side effects often are more significant than the intended purpose.
The referenced article is oriented to antiquities and artifacts from Andean cultures. But the observations are equally applied to other fields of study and collection of material culture. For example, there is a continuing, occasionally incendiary, discussion on certain websites about African Tribal Art. What is authentic, what is antique and what is new and made for market?
And how can you tell?
One indicator, in my opinion, is the price. If you see an item offered in the semi-anonymous realm of eBay at a ridiculously low price, chances are almost absolute that it is a fake or, to be more polite in some cases, a reproduction.
Even works that have been authenticated by curators and other people paid for their expertise can be less than they are presented as. Increasingly, these "experts" are being trained with fakes that are presented to them as authentic.
At one time, certain testing regimens would reveal if something is genuine or not. That too is becoming less reliable as crafts-people have learned how to use materials identical those used in the making of the item 1,000 years ago.
Moving to the area of Native American Indian art, eBay has taken steps to prevent some items from being misrepresented as Native American in origin. They required sellers to specify the tribal relationship and name of the artist for any piece represented as being made after 1934. Do you see the problem here? The prohibition does not apply to items claimed to have been created prior to 1934.
There are other protections. For items that are pre-historic or historic, Federal regulations require proof of legitimate acquisition. Items taken from public lands are contraband and may not be sold unless acquired prior to the enactment of laws protecting property that rightfully belongs to the public. For more recent items presented as Native American-made, the Indian Arts & Crafts Act applies. This is the law eBay cites to justify their requirements for posting contemporary Native American art.
There are other helpful resources.
o The Indian Arts & Crafts Association requires members to accurately represent items they sell. Members agree, upon penalty of expulsion, not to identify anything as Native American-made unless it is, in fact, made by Native Americans.
o Another resource is the Antique Tribal Art Dealers Association. This group has a stringent code of responsibility for correct identification of items offered for sale by members.
o There also are some discussion groups on Yahoo that are frequented by people with a lot of experience in artifact identification. One of them, artifakesgroup@yahoo.com, regularly highlights items, especially bead work, offered on eBay that members believe to be misrepresented.
Finally, one of your best protections is to work with dealer that you trust (membership in organization such as IACA and ATADA can be guides). Even then, there may be problems. Stanish tells of a dealer he went to in La Paz, Bolivia. He told the owner that many of her pieces were fake. Her reaction was one of anger. He then went through the displayed pieces and pronounced them "fake" or "real". Hooked by the author's apparent expertise, the owner decided to prove him wrong by grabbing one he had identified as "real" and telling him it was "fake" too.
The article, available on line, is an informative and entertaining read.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aboriginals: Art of the First Person, with web sites at ZuniLink.com, Native-JewelryLink.com, Native-PotteryLink.com and TribalWorks.com, deals in authentic, guaranteed tribal art. We support the protection of items of native patrimony.
Friday, May 01, 2009
Tribal Art - Sotheby's May 20 catalog on line
Eighteen days from now, May 20, 2009 Sotheby's New york will hold an auction of American Indian Art including property from the Frieda and Milton Rosenthal Collection.
The catalog is online for web browsers at Sotheby's.
There are more than 200 lots ranging in estimates from US$5,000 to US$80,000
Among the higher end pieces are Chilkat blankets, Haida rattles, Navajo weavings and historic pottery from the Southwestern Pueblos. Baskets also are well represented.
In addition to browsing through the catalog on line, you can order a copy of the catalog for purchase. We find these printed catalogs, which usually are followed by a 'prices realized sheet' if requested, can be valuable resources for determining values of similar items you may be considering buying or selling.
Oh, yes. You also can bid on line. Be sure to read the terms and conditions. An auction house premium is added to the winning bid.
Whether you bid or not, however, an auction like this can be very educational. At Aboriginals: Art of the First Person and our websites at Tribalworks.com, ZuniLink.com, Native-JewelryLink.com and Native-PotteryLink.com, we value informed buyers. We add our best thinking and experience to the educational mix. The more you know about an object of tribal art, the more you will enjoy owning it.
The catalog is online for web browsers at Sotheby's.
There are more than 200 lots ranging in estimates from US$5,000 to US$80,000
Among the higher end pieces are Chilkat blankets, Haida rattles, Navajo weavings and historic pottery from the Southwestern Pueblos. Baskets also are well represented.
In addition to browsing through the catalog on line, you can order a copy of the catalog for purchase. We find these printed catalogs, which usually are followed by a 'prices realized sheet' if requested, can be valuable resources for determining values of similar items you may be considering buying or selling.
Oh, yes. You also can bid on line. Be sure to read the terms and conditions. An auction house premium is added to the winning bid.
Whether you bid or not, however, an auction like this can be very educational. At Aboriginals: Art of the First Person and our websites at Tribalworks.com, ZuniLink.com, Native-JewelryLink.com and Native-PotteryLink.com, we value informed buyers. We add our best thinking and experience to the educational mix. The more you know about an object of tribal art, the more you will enjoy owning it.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Tribal Art - What's authentic and Why it matters
This embedded video features Tony Eriacho, Zuni artist and Indian Art authenticity activist, who talks about issues of authentic Indian art and their ramifications. Tony is a friend and trusted authority. I think the video is worth 8 minutes of your time.
We at Aboriginals: Art of the First Person have been members of the Indian Arts and crafts Association for 20 years and are strong believers in the principles that Tony advocates. We apply them to every thing we offer at ZuniLink, Native-JewelryLink, Native-PotteryLink and TribalWorks.
We invite your inspection and your questions.
We at Aboriginals: Art of the First Person have been members of the Indian Arts and crafts Association for 20 years and are strong believers in the principles that Tony advocates. We apply them to every thing we offer at ZuniLink, Native-JewelryLink, Native-PotteryLink and TribalWorks.
We invite your inspection and your questions.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Tribal Art - New Orleans Museum offers overview of African Art
Tribal Works offers this from JacarandaTribal, a blog with a special expertise in African tribal art that we follow -
African Art from the Permanent Collection
Tuesday, April 28,6-8 p.m.
Curator of African Art William Fagaly will use the Museum's collection to provide educators with a general overview of the arts ofAfrica . The objects in the galleries will help to shed light on the religious, social and artistic background of each culture represented. Overall themes within the collection will be highlighted, allowing educators to present the material to their students with ease. Education staff also will discuss classroom activities and suggestions for incorporating African art into a variety of curricula.
Thanks Jacaranda.
African Art from the Permanent Collection
Tuesday, April 28,
Curator of African Art William Fagaly will use the Museum's collection to provide educators with a general overview of the arts of
Thanks Jacaranda.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Tribal Art - Aboriginals granted full membership in the ATADA
Aboriginals : Art of the First Person, operators of web sites at ZuniLink.com, Native-JewelryLink.com, Native-PotteryLink.com and TribalWorks.com, has been admitted to full membership in the prestigious Antique Tribal Art Dealers Association (ATADA).
ATADA has a rigorous code of ethics concerning business practices and representations of items offered for sale. The organization, however, recognizes that the most effect program to prevent misleading representation and the sale of fakes is an educated public. ATADA supports efforts to provide potential buyers with information and awareness they need to make wise purchases.
The organization also sponsors a Theft Alert program which publicizes art and antique items that have been reported as stolen. This program makes it almost impossible to sell stolen art to dealers and difficult to keep it where any knowledgable dealer or collector will see it. It has resulted in numerous stolen items being returned to their rightful owners.
Aboriginals and its allied web sites are proud to be members of ATADA and to be devoted to the principles and standards of the organization.
For more information about ATADA , visit their web site at www.atada.org
ATADA has a rigorous code of ethics concerning business practices and representations of items offered for sale. The organization, however, recognizes that the most effect program to prevent misleading representation and the sale of fakes is an educated public. ATADA supports efforts to provide potential buyers with information and awareness they need to make wise purchases.
The organization also sponsors a Theft Alert program which publicizes art and antique items that have been reported as stolen. This program makes it almost impossible to sell stolen art to dealers and difficult to keep it where any knowledgable dealer or collector will see it. It has resulted in numerous stolen items being returned to their rightful owners.
Aboriginals and its allied web sites are proud to be members of ATADA and to be devoted to the principles and standards of the organization.
For more information about ATADA , visit their web site at www.atada.org
Sunday, April 05, 2009
Tribal Art - Native American Indian jewelry being shipped to Australia
We are in the process of packing up a shipment of Native American jewelry to go to a shop in Orange, NSW, Australia that has decided to offer this genre of jewelry to its customers.
We are always excited when others in the Tribal Arts. Native jewelry and allied fields believe in the works we offer and place their trust in us to deliver authentic, quality items of Tribal Art.
The name of the store is Earth Spirit - Natures Clothing and Giftware. If you are in or near Orange, Australia, please look them up and say hello.
For examples of the type of products that Earth Spirit will offer, check out our U. S. based Web site
We are always excited when others in the Tribal Arts. Native jewelry and allied fields believe in the works we offer and place their trust in us to deliver authentic, quality items of Tribal Art.
The name of the store is Earth Spirit - Natures Clothing and Giftware. If you are in or near Orange, Australia, please look them up and say hello.
For examples of the type of products that Earth Spirit will offer, check out our U. S. based Web site
Monday, March 30, 2009
In remembrance - Tyler Quam
We have just received word that Zuni carver, Tyler Quam, has passed away.
He was a member of a family of carvers well known for their work. Tyler's sisters are Prudencia Quam, Georgette Quam His brothers are Eldred and Andrew Quam. He was also father of 2 children with Joanna Cheama.
We ask you to join us in prayers for the family at this time.
We ask you to join us in prayers for the family at this time.
Tribal Art - Zemanek-Munster Tribal Arts Auction struggles
According to Web sources, the most recent Zemanek-Munster tribal art auction, held twice a year, attracted a disappointing response.
As a result, the auctioneer has initiated an aftersale to move unsold lots.
For example, this is lot 138, a heddle pulley
Or this example, lot 111, a stool
You can view these and some 258 other lots at Zemanek-Munster's web site. Or see similar items of African and Oceanic tribal art at TribalWorks .
As a result, the auctioneer has initiated an aftersale to move unsold lots.
For example, this is lot 138, a heddle pulley
Baule - shaped corpus with incised ornaments, front and backside carved with a buffalo head, bobbin missing, min. dam., slight signs of abrasion, on wooden plate
Price: 750 €Or this example, lot 111, a stool
Gurunsi, Burkina Faso - light brown wood, spotty patina, of simple form, four strong legs supporting a nearly rectangular, slightly hollowed seat, min. dam., signs of usage and abrasion
Price: 300 €
Or this, lot 92, ape mask "ngon"
Bamana, Mali - wood, shiny blackish brown patina, of oval form, a slightly protruding forehead, open worked eyes in round cavities, flanking a triangular, slightly raised nose with drilled nostrils, a broad opened mouth underneath, framed by ears with drilled holes, pierced around the rim, min. dam., slight signs of abrasion, fissures; worn by the initiates of the "koré" society. They used animal masks, thus illustrating the relationship of humans with their own animalistic features.
Price: 2500 €You can view these and some 258 other lots at Zemanek-Munster's web site. Or see similar items of African and Oceanic tribal art at TribalWorks .
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Tribal Art - have some fun. Guess the carver.
Often we get confused about who carved what.
Not that we didn't know and can't look it up.
But we look at a carving we have had for a while and we wonder, "Who carved that?"
Of course when we look it up in our records we say, "Of course, that's who the carver was."
So we thought we might turn it into a game and you might enjoy playing.
Is it Emery Eriacho?
Or Elroy Pablito?
Or a Quandelacy?
|?
|?
|?
|?
|?
|?
|?
If you guessed it was a Quandelacy, you must know a little something about fetish carvers.
But we're not done yet.
Which Quandelacy?
Click here to find out
Not that we didn't know and can't look it up.
But we look at a carving we have had for a while and we wonder, "Who carved that?"
Of course when we look it up in our records we say, "Of course, that's who the carver was."
So we thought we might turn it into a game and you might enjoy playing.
Is it Emery Eriacho?
Or Elroy Pablito?
Or a Quandelacy?
|?
|?
|?
|?
|?
|?
|?
If you guessed it was a Quandelacy, you must know a little something about fetish carvers.
But we're not done yet.
Which Quandelacy?
Click here to find out
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Tribal Art - New, 'old' fetishes on Zuni Link
We have dipped into our personal collection to present a few bona fide vintage fetish carvings from Zuni. They all have some of the magic of carvings that predate the attempts to carve for market.
We are not knocking the newer carvings. Many of them are excellent beyond measure. If they are on our site, they definitely pass our personal test for excellence and value (for price). We cherry pick the best from the best.
But the old ones have a certain soulful quality that enhances their value beyond any price tag. Nevertheless, they have price tags and you can find out by visiting our ZuniLink web site page for Vintage and Old Fetishes.
We believe they all are pre-1970.
Here are a few examples:
Visit us at ZuniLink for more. We also offer web sites that feature Native American Indian jewelry, Native American Pueblo pottery and a pot-pourri of African, Australian, Arctic and Navajo folk art.
We are not knocking the newer carvings. Many of them are excellent beyond measure. If they are on our site, they definitely pass our personal test for excellence and value (for price). We cherry pick the best from the best.
But the old ones have a certain soulful quality that enhances their value beyond any price tag. Nevertheless, they have price tags and you can find out by visiting our ZuniLink web site page for Vintage and Old Fetishes.
We believe they all are pre-1970.
Here are a few examples:
Visit us at ZuniLink for more. We also offer web sites that feature Native American Indian jewelry, Native American Pueblo pottery and a pot-pourri of African, Australian, Arctic and Navajo folk art.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Tribal Art - Investing in beauty and life enrichment
According to an arts and antiques newsletter, the economy is having a peculiar effect on art and collectible purchases.
To quote, "The Finer Things", a fine art gallery in New York and Cincinnati, "has seen requests for quality antiques, fine art and jewelry increase ten-fold in the past few months."
It seems that when 401Ks and retirement/investment funds based in securities go south, investors look for items of solid, three-dimensional value.
I am not very surprised. At the very least, a treasured object is something you can look at, enjoy and have enrich life even if the value doesn't go up.
(Incidentally, we always encourage buyers not to buy for investment. Art and collectibles are highly undependable as potential investments. They can just as easily go down in monetary value as appreciate. Buy out of love and a desire to have an object in you life. Those are experiences you can't discount. They will last forever.)
For previews of how objects of tribal art can make you smile and feel good, check out our web sites at ZuniLink.com, Native-JewelryLink.com, Native-PotteryLink.com and TribalWorks.com
To quote, "The Finer Things", a fine art gallery in New York and Cincinnati, "has seen requests for quality antiques, fine art and jewelry increase ten-fold in the past few months."
It seems that when 401Ks and retirement/investment funds based in securities go south, investors look for items of solid, three-dimensional value.
I am not very surprised. At the very least, a treasured object is something you can look at, enjoy and have enrich life even if the value doesn't go up.
(Incidentally, we always encourage buyers not to buy for investment. Art and collectibles are highly undependable as potential investments. They can just as easily go down in monetary value as appreciate. Buy out of love and a desire to have an object in you life. Those are experiences you can't discount. They will last forever.)
For previews of how objects of tribal art can make you smile and feel good, check out our web sites at ZuniLink.com, Native-JewelryLink.com, Native-PotteryLink.com and TribalWorks.com
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Tribal Art - Whitehawk announces 2009 shows
Whitehawk has announced the dates and venues for its 2009 Ethnographic Art Show and 2009 Antique Indian Art Show.
The Ethnographic Art Show, the 26th annual staging, will run Saturday and Sunday, August 15 and 16, 2009 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with a preview opening on Friday, August 14, 2009 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
The 31st annual Antique Indian Art Show will have a preview opening on Monday, August 17, 2009 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, followed by shows on Tuesday and Wednesday, August 18 and 19, 2009 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Both shows are to be held at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center.
The shows are harbingers of the world-famous Santa Fe Indian Market, which will take place throughout downtown Santa Fe on Saturday, August 23 and Sunday, August 24, 2009.
This particular week in Santa Fe is a time of incessant activity. Accommodations book up early. If you don't have your place to stay already, its important to line it up now. When doing so, consider that Santa Fe Trails, the local bus company, runs shuttles from certain parking areas so it is not necessary to stay right on top of the action.
If you can't find vacancies in Santa Fe, an alternative is to stay in Albuquerque and ride the new Railrunner train service from Albuquerque to Santa Fe. There's also a Days Inn in Bernalillo that is just two blocks from the local stop of the Railrunner. Actually, we will probably ride the Railrunner at least one day while there, even though we have a local Santa Fe room booked, simply because I am kind of nutty about trains.
Yes, this is rather early notice. But, with Indian Market week, if you don't act fast, you lose out.
As indicated, Susanne and William Waites plan to be in New Mexico for Indian Market and associated events. As collectors and dealers in tribal art, we enjoy seeing all of our old friend artists and their latest work, and all of our fellow dealers.
Items acquired at the time eventually appear on our Web sites: ZuniLink.com featuring top quality fetish carvings by Zunis, Cochitis and residents of San Felipe Pueblo; Native-JewelryLink.com for outstanding and unique items of handmade Indian jewelry; Native-PotteryLink.com for creations of historic and contemporary Pueblo and Native American pottery. We also offer African tribal art, Australian Aboriginal art, Arctic-Inuit art and Navajo Folk Art at our fourth Web site, TribalWorks.com
Thanks for reading. If you plan to be in Santa Fe when we are, give us a shout now and we will look for opportunities to meet up there.
The Ethnographic Art Show, the 26th annual staging, will run Saturday and Sunday, August 15 and 16, 2009 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with a preview opening on Friday, August 14, 2009 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
The 31st annual Antique Indian Art Show will have a preview opening on Monday, August 17, 2009 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, followed by shows on Tuesday and Wednesday, August 18 and 19, 2009 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Both shows are to be held at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center.
The shows are harbingers of the world-famous Santa Fe Indian Market, which will take place throughout downtown Santa Fe on Saturday, August 23 and Sunday, August 24, 2009.
The Whitehawk shows always are well-attended and include outstanding dealers and other exhibitors. For more information about the Whitehawk Shows, visit Whitehawkshows.com. For more information about Indian Market, go to SWAIA.com, the web site for the South West Association for Indian Arts.
Street scene at Indian Market 2008. Artists' Booths line San Francisco Street,
with St. Francis Cathedral in the background.
Street scene at Indian Market 2008. Artists' Booths line San Francisco Street,with St. Francis Cathedral in the background.
This particular week in Santa Fe is a time of incessant activity. Accommodations book up early. If you don't have your place to stay already, its important to line it up now. When doing so, consider that Santa Fe Trails, the local bus company, runs shuttles from certain parking areas so it is not necessary to stay right on top of the action.
If you can't find vacancies in Santa Fe, an alternative is to stay in Albuquerque and ride the new Railrunner train service from Albuquerque to Santa Fe. There's also a Days Inn in Bernalillo that is just two blocks from the local stop of the Railrunner. Actually, we will probably ride the Railrunner at least one day while there, even though we have a local Santa Fe room booked, simply because I am kind of nutty about trains.
Yes, this is rather early notice. But, with Indian Market week, if you don't act fast, you lose out.
As indicated, Susanne and William Waites plan to be in New Mexico for Indian Market and associated events. As collectors and dealers in tribal art, we enjoy seeing all of our old friend artists and their latest work, and all of our fellow dealers.
Items acquired at the time eventually appear on our Web sites: ZuniLink.com featuring top quality fetish carvings by Zunis, Cochitis and residents of San Felipe Pueblo; Native-JewelryLink.com for outstanding and unique items of handmade Indian jewelry; Native-PotteryLink.com for creations of historic and contemporary Pueblo and Native American pottery. We also offer African tribal art, Australian Aboriginal art, Arctic-Inuit art and Navajo Folk Art at our fourth Web site, TribalWorks.com
Thanks for reading. If you plan to be in Santa Fe when we are, give us a shout now and we will look for opportunities to meet up there.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Tribal Art - Look for us on AboutUsWiki
Our Native Pottery Link site has now been listed on AboutUsWiki.
Check it out at http://www.AboutUs.org/Native-PotteryLink.com
This is a wiki, an interactive reference guide for all sorts of internet subjects.
Enjoy.
Check it out at http://www.AboutUs.org/Native-PotteryLink.com
This is a wiki, an interactive reference guide for all sorts of internet subjects.
Enjoy.
Church Street Cafe, Old Town, Albuquerque, NM
As we anticipate our next journey to New Mexico, we reminisce about one of our favorite palces to eat while there. The Church Street Cafe in Old Town behind San Felipe Church.
The rear garden is a sensual treat that adds to the delightful menu of Southwestern dishes.
We enjoy watching this and hope you will too.
The rear garden is a sensual treat that adds to the delightful menu of Southwestern dishes.
We enjoy watching this and hope you will too.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Tribal Art - Molly Murphy, Oglala artist wins Best of Heard Show
"Absolutely magnificent", was the rave given by Barbara Korn, Heard Museum Show official, to the Best of Show winning work of Oglala Sioux bead work artist, Molly Murphy.
Murphy's entry, titled "Past is Prologue", was a Salish-style cradle board, beaded in light blue turquoise.
Lovers of Native American tribal art recognize the Heard Museum Fair and Market as one of the pre-eminent competitions in the world of Native art. Murphy's work was in competition with seven other first place winners in other categories, representing an even more significant win.
The show attracted entries from more than 700 Indian artists. Crowds visiting the weekend festival were estimated at 20,000, a 14% increase over last year's attendance. This speaks well for the vitality and popularity of Native American Indian art
Murphy also won a Second Place award in the beading category with a sewing box covered in red wool and ornate beading.
Murphy reported that the cradle board was purchased by collectors from New Jersey, who have several grandchildren, including a very recent one.
More information about Murphy's win is available at the Missoulian, a Missoula, MT newspaper.
As fans of beautiful Native American bead work and all Native Tribal Art, Susanne & William Ernest Waites, providers of tribal art at TribalWorks.com, Native-JewelryLink.com, Native-PotteryLink.com and ZuniLink.com, salute Molly Murphy for her extraordinary work and her impressive win.
Murphy's entry, titled "Past is Prologue", was a Salish-style cradle board, beaded in light blue turquoise.
Lovers of Native American tribal art recognize the Heard Museum Fair and Market as one of the pre-eminent competitions in the world of Native art. Murphy's work was in competition with seven other first place winners in other categories, representing an even more significant win.
The show attracted entries from more than 700 Indian artists. Crowds visiting the weekend festival were estimated at 20,000, a 14% increase over last year's attendance. This speaks well for the vitality and popularity of Native American Indian art
Murphy also won a Second Place award in the beading category with a sewing box covered in red wool and ornate beading.
Murphy reported that the cradle board was purchased by collectors from New Jersey, who have several grandchildren, including a very recent one.
More information about Murphy's win is available at the Missoulian, a Missoula, MT newspaper.
As fans of beautiful Native American bead work and all Native Tribal Art, Susanne & William Ernest Waites, providers of tribal art at TribalWorks.com, Native-JewelryLink.com, Native-PotteryLink.com and ZuniLink.com, salute Molly Murphy for her extraordinary work and her impressive win.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Tribal Art - by Talia Quandelacy, Zuni carver
Last summer we visited with Talia Quandelacy and acquired some of her very nicely done work.
Here's a brief video of that pleasant encounter.
Brought to you by two of Talia's greatest fans, Susanne and William Waites of ZuniLink.com
Here's a brief video of that pleasant encounter.
Brought to you by two of Talia's greatest fans, Susanne and William Waites of ZuniLink.com
Thursday, March 12, 2009
A Tour of the Sheik Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi
It may be a stretch to consider Abu Dhabi among tribal art resources. At, least in the manner we normally define it.
But we visited it in February and had fabulous exposure to the local culture, including the Sheik Zayed Mosque - the third largest mosque in the world.
We were very impressed with our tour of the mosque, a video of which is embedded here.
But we visited it in February and had fabulous exposure to the local culture, including the Sheik Zayed Mosque - the third largest mosque in the world.
We were very impressed with our tour of the mosque, a video of which is embedded here.
Sunday, March 08, 2009
Tribal Art - Saving the Planet online
Whether or not you believe in man-made global warming – personally, I am an agnostic - it turns out that you may be reducing your impact on the planet by purchasing items online instead of in-person.
The Carnegie Mellon Green Design Institute put together a study that purports to prove that e-commerce not only uses less energy but also reduces the carbon footprint of retailing by one-third vs. bricks-and-mortar retailing.
The team, led by H. Scott Matthews, compared energy consumption and CO2 emissions required to deliver a small thumb drive to a customer via a shopping trip to a store vs. buying and shipping from an online site.
According to the study, as reported in the Wall Street Journal, the highest environmental cost of traditional shopping is the drive by car to the store. (This was based on an estimate of an average shopping round-trip being 14 miles, with three different items purchased on a trip.)
But what about the environmental cost of delivery to you home? The researchers determined that the “last-mile” cost of delivering a package as part of a
Okay, what about the cost of data centers and computers? Well, it turns out that, on average the incremental costs of running data centers and computers, beyond the energy costs that are incurred by businesses tracking inventory and consumers using computers for other tasks, is insignificant.
To be fair, the extra packaging to ship safely adds mare cost than carrying an item home in shopping bag. In addition, using air mail or personalized express shipping options can increase the impact on the environment. On the other hand, using the postal service3 to ship has almost no incremental cost since the time and resources are already being used for normal mail delivery.
There is one way the traditional retailing has less impact on the environment than e-commerce; if you walk to the store. Of course, that seldom applies to shopping for tribal art since so few of us live down he stet from a tribal art gallery.
While we are on the subject of tribal art, let’s reflect on its benign environmental impact.
Very little if any non-renewable energy is used in the making of tribal art. True, some Native American carvers use electrically-driven carving tools. But then they start with natural materials, stone, wood, semi-precious gems, silver, gold and clay with very little energy expended in manufacturing and very little wasted material.
For example, Native American potters create their works the traditional way. They mine the clay by hand. They form it by hand. They fire in pits using wood. They polish by hand with smoothing stones.
Finally, buying tribal art supports a process and practice that has been place for generations, and the artists who were among the first to recognize the importance of honoring Mother Earth.
This report is brought to you by Susanne and William Waites, proprietors of Aboriginals: Art of the First Person, with Web sites at ZuniLink.com, featuring Zuni and other Native American carvings; Native-JewelryLink.com, featuring the finest in Native American Indian jewelry; Native-PotteryLink, featuring handmade Indian pottery from Native Pueblos; and TribalWorks.com, combining triabl art from African, Australian Aboriginal art, Arctic art and Navajo folk art.
We are gratified to be able to bring this outstanding tribal work to your attention, on behalf of the artists (and the planet).
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Tribal Art - More on the question of authenticity
The Tribal Beat reports on the San Francisco Tribal & Textile Show recently held at Fort Mason.
His take on the state of the market is interesting. Realistic, if a little depressing. But I am convinced that the market for tribal art will come blazing back.
He also writes about the motives of "experts" called in to vet objects proposed for inclusion in the show. It partially agrees with my feelings about asking other dealers for opinions. I continue to feel it is a good precaution. Yet, as the Tribal Beat suggests. Everything is not fair and always in the buyer's (or the business's) best interest.
Brought to you courtesy of William and Susanne Waites, proprietors of TribalWorks.com, ZuniLink.com, Native-JewelryLink.com, Native-PotteryLink.com
His take on the state of the market is interesting. Realistic, if a little depressing. But I am convinced that the market for tribal art will come blazing back.
He also writes about the motives of "experts" called in to vet objects proposed for inclusion in the show. It partially agrees with my feelings about asking other dealers for opinions. I continue to feel it is a good precaution. Yet, as the Tribal Beat suggests. Everything is not fair and always in the buyer's (or the business's) best interest.
Brought to you courtesy of William and Susanne Waites, proprietors of TribalWorks.com, ZuniLink.com, Native-JewelryLink.com, Native-PotteryLink.com
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