Only in New Mexico: 88th Annual Indian Market kicked off by first-ever Indian Arts and Culture Week
Happy summer!
Yesterday Southwestern Association of Indian Arts Executive Director Bruce Bernstein announced the memorialization of a new and special week for NM: Indian Arts and Culture Week–which will culiminate in the world renown Indian Market, August 22 and 23 here in Santa Fe. This is an event that showcases the finest in Native Art from around the state, giving visitors a chance to shake hands with the artisans responsible for both contemporary and tradition productions in everything from clothing and jewerly to painting and pottery.
Read Inez Russell’s article on the ribbon cutting here: http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/Ceremony-kicks-off-Indian-Arts-and-Cultural-Week
For general information on Indian Market, visit www.swaia.org.
Let me now introduce Ken Lingad, who has personally represented some of the Southwest’s best Native artists. Ken tells us some of his tips for this year’s artists.
I was honored to wear Fritz Casuse's contemporary take on the squash blossom necklace.
Ken Lingad’s Best Bets for Indian Market
Jennifer Hobson: You’re known as a specialist in American Indian art of the Southwest. As we head into what promises to be another spectacular Indian Market season, are there specific artists you have your sights on?
Ken Lingad: I always keep a finger on the pulse of new and established talents, alike. There are some stellar standouts every few years, and this year will see a select few, in my opinion. For example, I stated last year in Santa Fean magazine that Picuris Jeweler Tol-pi-yine Simbola was on my radar – this year he was honored by SWAIA with a Youth Fellowship Award. If you haven’t planned on making it to his booth, get there.
JH: Are you following other jewelry artists?
KL: Absolutely. Samuel LaFountain, Melanie Kirk-Lente, Steve LaRance, Pat Pruitt, Cody Sanderson, and Kathy Whitman-Elk Woman. I’m looking forward to being significantly impressed by Fritz Casuse – he raises the bar for all of his peers and juniors.
JH: Who’s on your pottery list?
KL: I will be checking out Marvis Aragon’s pottery works, in addition to Goldenrod, Dominique Toya, and Ed Kabotie. I expect Santa Clara Pueblo artist Autumn Borts-Medlock to keep reaching even newer heights of near-perfection with skillful precision and clarity of thematic development.
JH: You’ve personally managed some of the biggest names in Contemporary Native Art, specifically painters. Who impresses you?
KL: I would have to say – hands down – C.J. Wells. If you can get anything of hers, do it now. Unlike many other artists, the sheer depth and quality of C.J.’s masterpieces justify the consistent rise in market value. While other artists have come and gone in Santa Fe, C.J. remains a force that cannot be reckoned with – only honored. I can stare at her pieces for hours. I do stare at her pieces for hours.
Mateo Romero continues to blow my mind, while other talents on my radar (not relegated to a specific medium) include Sheridan McKnight, Ryan Singer, Eve LaFountain, Wanesia Spry-Misquadace, Dyani Reynolds-White Hawk, and the legendary Ed NoiseCat.
JH: Great information Ken; I hope I can pick your brain again at some point regarding the art scene.
KL: Definitely! I am particularly excited about the energy a handful of new galleries are bringing to the table.
About Ken Lingad:
Ken Lingad (Isleta Pueblo) is a recognized authority on Southwest American Indian Art and Culture. He works frequently with organizations such as the SWAIA Santa Fe Indian Market, Museum of Indian Arts & Culture (MIAC), Museum of Fine Arts (MoFA), and other scholarly institutions. Working behind the scenes on some of Santa Fe’s most successful large-scale exhibition premieres, Lingad remains a significant figure on the city’s fine art scene.
As you peruse the wonder of New Mexico’s Native Art this weekend, enjoy some of the summer’s best weather too–we have been loving the hot, clear days and cool high desert nights.
Jen
Big, chunky, turquoise jewelry=GALLUP
Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial
202 W. Coal Ave.
Gallup, New Mexico 87301
Phone: (505) 863-3896
gallup-ceremonial.org/
For more information on Gallup, Inter-tribal Ceremonial, and the opportunities to enjoy Indian Country in its most genuine form, please visit this site: http://newmexico.org/explore/regions/northwest/gallup.php
Jen
Earn your turns
Hello there!
This weekend was another one in paradise–between the Vinyasa yoga at Body of Santa Fe (http://www.bodyofsantafe.com/) and “skinning” up Ski Santa Fe, plus a nice afternoon sitting outside at the Teahouse on Canyon Road (http://www.teahousesantafe.com/), I was in heaven.
One hour later we made it to the top of Ski Santa Fe (http://www.skisantafe.com/), a resort nestled high in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and a mere 16 miles from the historic Plaza.
Ecotourism–a natural fit for the Land of Enchantment
Ecotourism is the fastest growing segment in the tourism industry and brings a desirable type of visitor—one that stays longer, spends more money, and has an interest in authentic, hands-on experiences. Here are some bottom-line facts regarding what the state has to gain by this initiative, as provided by the International Ecotourism Society.
Since the 1990s, Ecotourism has been growing 20% - 34% per year.
In 2004, Ecotourism/nature tourism was growing globally 3 times faster than the tourism industry as a whole.
“Experiential” tourism—which encompasses Ecotourism, nature, heritage, cultural, and soft adventure tourism, as well as sub-sectors such as rural and community tourism—is among the sectors expected to grow most quickly over the next two decades.
Analysts predict a growth in Eco-resorts and hotels, and a boom in nature tourism — a sector already growing at 20% a year — and suggest early converts to sustainable tourism will make market gains.
In Europe:
–20%-30% of travelers are aware of needs & values of sustainable tourism.
–10%-20% of travelers look for ‘green’ options.
–5%-10% of travelers demand ‘green’ holidays.
Nearly half of those surveyed in Britain said they would be more likely to go with a “company that had a written code to guarantee good working conditions, protect the environment and support local charities in the tourist destination…”
The question shouldn’t be why are we looking to bring Ecotourism to New Mexico, rather, why wouldn’t we? By branding and marketing ourselves as such, we stand to gain sustainable tourism that values scenic beauty, wildlife, outdoor adventure, and cultural heritage and will be a huge boon to an industry that already touts an economic impact of $5.2 billion dollars in direct spending each year in the state.
By identifying ourselves as the Ecotourism destination in the United States and offering Eco-adventures and packaged vacations across the state, New Mexico has the capacity to lead a rapidly growing sector of the tourism industry. This is our chance to embrace our already magnificent “Enchantment”, capitalizing on our existing assets in a new and growing market, and setting ourselves even further apart from our competitors in a time when ingenuity and freshness are in high demand.Hats off to New Mexico–another success in Pasadena
Dear friends,
It’s not just for kids either–this event brings out the child in everyone who attends. It was another great year of showcasing New Mexico’s scenic beauty–and sense of humor.
Jen
NM: The Last Frontier! (at least for the Chinese)
Hello everyone,
While Shanghai impressed with astounding architecture and an efficient, bustling, and polite people, it sure was good to get back to New Mexico and take a deep breath of big, clean, high desert air. We are so lucky!
JenGetting away from it all
Good afternoon lovers of all things New Mexican,
Named after the famous 1950s radio (and eventually TV) show as a publicity stunt, T or C is three hours south of Santa Fe, so, two hours south of Albuquerque and an hour north of Las Cruces. Right off of I-25, T or C is near our largest lake, Elephant Butte Reservoir (in Elephant Butte Reservoir State Park: http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/PRD/elephant.htm) and is on the banks of the Rio Grande. Overlooking the town is the beautiful and arid Turtleback Mountain, a southern extension of the Rockies. The area, once a healing destination for Native Americans, has always been popular because of one thing: HOT WATER. Mineral-rich water pops right up out of the ground from wells as shallow as three feet that tap a giant aquifer under the town. I can attest–when I visit T or C, the very first thing I do is soak in the water. Before bed, upon waking–you really do want to be in it all the time. Nothing makes me relax faster. 
The Pecos River runs through it
When I was a young girl I had my dad’s broken down rod and spinner reel from when he was a kid within easy reach all summer. Our property in Hailey, Idaho, butted up against a small creek fed by an artesian well only two miles upstream. The little creek, a tributary to the Big Wood River, was cold all year long and full of brook trout–which, although small, are some of the finest for eating, and also one of the most beautiful varieties of trout. They are dark and densely covered in lavander and mandarin spots recircled with rings of white. Easily spooked, I’d sneak up on them after collecting grasshoppers in the timothy grass and spearing them on the small hook for bait, spending countless hours stalking trout. In no other way could I lose myself more easily.
Soonafter I took up fly fishing. When I moved to New Mexico in 2002 I planned day trips all summer in order to find the good trout water. Though I can’t walk to the Pecos River the way I could to the little creek behind my old house, it is close enough. Within twenty minutes of leaving my house I am on world class waters, with a little hiking I can be completely alone, and it is almost guaranteed that with a hopper or a stimulator size 12 fly I will catch a fine New Mexico brown trout. It’s almost just the same as when I was a kid wet wading under a big high desert sky.
This morning I attended a press conference where Gov. Bill Richardson announced his intentions to preserve Pecos Canyon by making it a State Park with the help of legislators and the Jemez tribe. Gathered near a brilliant stand of cottonwoods and a steady and clear Pecos River were citizens of the riverside hamlet of Pecos, employees of the Forest Service and State Parks, and others who support the designation of 35th State Park. On the drive up I was tempted by all the sweet spots I normally fish on the Pecos, and being there in that peculiarly intense fall sun reminded me how lucky I am to live here and to be part of a state that truly believes in, and makes progress in, preservation of our wild and scenic places.
NM has 34 diverse State Parks where one can find everything from sand dunes and rock art to canyonlands, rivers and lakes–even dinosaur tracks. For more information on our state parks visit this website: www.nmparks.com
Jen
My Private New Mexico
Hi Everyone,
I want to first introduce myself–I’m Jen Hoffman, and I’m a new addition to the Promotions Team here at the New Mexico Tourism Department.
The purpose of this blog is to keep in touch with anyone who is interested in the Land of Enchantment. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a resident, a visitor, a curious traveler, from Texas or Paris (and not Paris, TX). If you’re into the outdoors, history, culture, great culinary adventures, art–maybe you have always wanted to come to New Mexico but haven’t had good enough reason to quite yet.
I want to tell you about my private New Mexico. The day in and day out wonder of living here, the little adventures I’m lucky to go on because of my job. It’s time to talk you into making a trip to a place where the most common question is Red or Green? And what we’re referring to is the fragrant aroma of red or green chiles being roasted in parking lots under a massive sparkling NM sky each fall.
It’s time to put on your vintage cowboy boots, get out your big turquoise and sterling jewelry (as one vendor at the Tesuque Flea Market puts it: “If you can’t see it from the highway, why wear it?”) http://www.tesuquepueblofleamarket.com/. Sit by a pinon-burning kiva fireplace and enjoy some of the best food in the country. Spend a day fly fishing on a tributary of the Rio Grande for cutthroat and hefty brown trout. Take a stroll on the otherworldly White Sands dunes. Check out where the films “No Country for Old Men” and “Wild Hogs” were shot. Billy the Kid. Chaco Culture. Georgia O’Keeffe Country. Art that will blow even the nation’s most cutting edge metropolises out of the water.
If you want to know more about the great events and other unique opportunities for NM visitors, you’re at the right place. http://www.newmexico.org/ is rich with information on everything from where to stay and play to where to meet a healer or get a spa treatment. You can always call me directly at 505 827 6674 or email me at Jennifer.Hoffman@state.nm.us.
Warmly,
Jen