Santa Fe Indian Market
Written: Nov 09 '99
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Learn about Indian art and culture
Cons: Crowded, expensive
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| rag47's Full Review: Santa Fe |
Santa Fe Indian Market is held every year on the third weekend of August. This is a huge event and the town is packed. You will find pottery, jewelry, paintings, kachina dolls, sculpture, rugs, baskets, quilts, and beadwork for sale. There are 600 booths in and around the Plaza, with 1200 artists displaying their work. Artists compete for awards and prizes in numerous categories.
Of course you can buy Indian art all over the place, so why come to this? The hallmark of Indian Market is the tight control over quality. Artists must apply and be screened for authenticity and quality. Everything must be hand made, using authentic materials, by actual Indians (yes, they check their family tree and tribal standing). There are strict standards for every category of Indian art. Just being accepted to Indian Market is a good thing for an artist.
Santa Fe is a beautiful city with many fine restaurants and art galleries. Indian Market gives it a level of excitement, too. I was fascinated to see and learn about the art, how it is made, and what makes a piece good or bad. The weather was fine in August - the high elevation keeps it cool.
Indian Market happens on Saturday and Sunday. On the Friday night before the market opens, there is a preview and presentation of awards. To get in to see this, you have to be a member of the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts, which sponsors Indian Market. It costs $50 to join, and I recommend that you join before coming to the Market, so you can preview the best of the show and so you can learn more about Indian art. See their web site at http://www.swaia.org for more details. There's no admission charge to the market itself - it is free to the public.
The best pieces tend to be snapped up early Saturday when the market opens at nine. You would think that the prize winning artists would quickly double their prices but not all of them do. If you saw a piece at the preview that you want to buy, try to get to their booth at the moment it opens. By the end of Saturday, some booths are closed because they have sold everything they brought.
Sunday is a little more relaxed, and you can do some bargaining. The organizers officially try to discourage this, but plenty of bargaining happens anyway. Don't be afraid to bargain - it's easy to do. Simply asking the price of a piece (even if there's a tag on it) will often elicit a lower number.
Just wandering around is an education in Indian art. You'll learn the distinct styles of each tribe and pueblo. We bought some Hopi and Acoma pottery, and some jewelry. While it certainly helps to be rich and idle (and boy does this crowd look it), there are bargains to be had if you keep your eyes open. With so many booths, it takes the full two days to see it all.
Lodging is tight during Indian market - they say 100,000 people show up. Be sure to make your reservations early. It's best to have lodging close enough to the plaza to walk there. Book at least six months in advance. However, if you didn't plan ahead, places will probably still be available at one of the hotels out on Cerillos Road near the freeway.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
rag47
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Location: Issaquah, WA
Reviews written: 21
Trusted by: 12 members
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