Market is back! And that includes all of the festivities related to SWAIA’s crowning achievement in Santa Fe.
“This will look and feel like the Santa Fe Indian Market you have come to expect,” says SWAIA executive director Kim Peone (Colville Confederated Tribes/Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians). “We want it to feel familiar, but also brand new in many ways. We are very excited.”
Hoop dancer ShanDien LaRance (Ohkay Owingeh) reacts to a piece of jewelry being displayed during a previous SWAIA auction event. Photo courtesy Gabriella Marks / SWAIA.
One of the biggest changes this year will be that Santa Fe Indian Market will be a ticketed event that will be fenced in around the Santa Fe Plaza. The reason for the change was twofold: although New Mexico’s Covid vaccination rate is high, the pandemic is still an ongoing concern, especially to the vulnerable and unvaccinated, and secondly, a ticketed event will allow SWAIA to divert some pressure away from the artists, many of whom haven’t shown at a public event in more than a year. “This market will allow us to take some costs off the artists, but also protect them by offering a more controlled environment to sell their work,” says Peone.
An added bonus to the ticketed entry is that market will have gate-controlled hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. Eager collectors won’t have to camp out overnight to get the best material. They also won’t arrive on time to find out an overeager artist had sold all their work before the official opening.
Jolene Bird (Kewa (Santo Domingo)), inlay wine set, turquoise and coral
Ernie Lister (Navajo), Spider Woman, silver and turquoise
Eugene Tapahe (Navajo), The Protector at NODAPL Front Lines, photograph
The ticketing process is still in development, but Peone says that she and her team are doing everything they can to streamline the process and make it easy—and above all, safe—for visitors. SWAIA will offer six entrances, and the fenced-in areas won’t block any of the galleries or other venues that surround the Plaza.
In addition to market, and the robust performance schedule on the bandstand in the Plaza, this year’s Santa Fe Indian Market will also feature a number of popular returning events as well as some new ones. One of the early exclusive events is a live auction on Thursday, August 19, which will include a major collaborative jewelry piece from some of the top jewelers at market. On Friday, August 20, there will be the Best of Show Ceremony, a general preview of award-winning art and a silent auction at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center. Artists in the silent auction include Cara Romero, LeJeune Chavez, Ernie Lister, Jolene Bird, Joseph D. Chavez and many others.
LeJeune Chavez (Kewa (Santo Domingo)), full beaded cuff with natural shel
On Saturday, August 21, SWAIA will hold its popular Indian Market Gala, which this year will include a preview of the fashion show, as well as a silent auction. The next day, Sunday, will feature the famous Indigenous Fashion Show, immediately followed by a fashion trunk show. Both events will take place at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center.
Henry Calladitto (Navajo), silver cuff with turquoise and charoite
For those guests who are still not traveling, especially to large public events, SWAIA will be live streaming several market events, including the fashion show. “We want people to experience market from afar if they can’t be here with us,” Peone says. “We know it’s difficult for some, but we hope people are excited to start easing back into this amazing community space.”
Visitors are encouraged to become SWAIA members, which comes with several perks, including priority purchasing for many of the events.
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