Reunion in the Plaza

After canceling the 2020 event, Santa Fe Indian Market comes roaring back to life in true Santa Fe fashion.

By Michael Clawson

On Friday, August 20, it was almost two years to the day since the previous Santa Fe Art Market. During those last moments of the day, with the sun quietly setting on the Santa Fe Plaza, August 2019 felt like it had taken place 20 years ago, not two.

But by the next morning, with the hustle and bustle returning to the streets of Santa Fe, and artists once again in their booths surrounding the plaza, those two years melted away revealing a deep sense of joy and gratitude to again partake in this special event that is treasured by so many. Santa Fe Indian Market is a lot of things—an art fair, a fashion show, a fundraiser, an economic booster to Santa Fe—but when you’re standing in front of artists you haven’t seen in two years, an important realization sets in. It’s about the people. And it’s always been about the people.

Crowds stretch up Lincoln Avenue during the 99th Santa Fe Indian Market.

This was abundantly clear at the Best of Show Ceremony, in which artist after artist stood at a microphone to accept their award and conveyed how vital their families, their friends and their collectors have been over the last two years, particularly during the last 18 months of the pandemic. From Best of Show winner Rhonda Holy Bear and weaver Tyler Glasses to diverse artist Dana Warrington and sculptor Raymond Chee Sr., each artist thanked those they love, those they lost and those who guided them. It was a moving celebration of art, but also of life.

Wilmeta Kayquotewa (Hopi) basket, which won the Native American Art Magazine Award of Excellence.

By the next morning, the Saturday opening of the Santa Fe Indian Market, the streets were full, the artists were selling and spirits were high. And no one complained about masks, even as roughly 90 percent or so of the attendees walked around masked up outdoors on a warm Santa Fe day. Many handshakes were reduced down to fist or elbow bumps, but the atmosphere was lively, and it promoted positive vibes from buyers and artists alike. When Kim Peone, executive director of SWAIA, stopped by our Native American Art magazine booth, she was all smiles. “We’ve heard more than 20 artists have already sold out and gone home,” she said. “And more will likely be done before the day’s over. It has been great.”

World-renowned potter Russell Sanchez was one of the artists who had sold out. “I wasn’t even in my normal spot on the plaza, but my collectors found me, and some new ones,” he said. “I was done before Saturday was over. That’s a good feeling.”

We heard encouraging signs from other artists as well, including weaver Tyra Shackleford, carver Donald Lomawunu Sockyma and Mavasta Honyouti, painters Marla Allison and Micqaela Jones, potter Jonathan Naranjo and many others. At one point there were lines to get into the booths for photographer Zoe Urness and designer Jamie Okuma, and photographer Cara Romero, our August/September cover artists, had to go retrieve older work to restock her booth because she was selling so fast. “I couldn’t have asked for a better weekend,” she said on Sunday. “The response was really amazing.”

3. Dolores Purdy with some of her ledger art in her booth. 4. Weaver Marlowe Katoney holds up one of the weavings he brought to market. 5. Marla Allison with some of her work at King Galleries. Allison also had a booth at market. 6. Jeweler and artist Jason Brown, performing as Firefly, opens the SWAIA Fashion Show. 7. Hopi carver Donald Lomawunu Sockyma with some of his katsina carvings. 8. Mavasta Honyouti with one of his colorful carvings. 9. Native American Art executive editor Michael Clawson with Best of Show winner Rhonda Holy Bear, center, and American Art Collective podcast co-host Maggie Cibik.

As visitors started filing out of Santa Fe after the weekend, it was clear that the 99th Santa Fe Indian Market had achieved something extraordinary amid strange circumstances.

So take a breath and get your bearings, because 2022 is the centennial for Santa Fe Indian Market. It’s sure to be an exciting year!

Award Winners

Best of Show and Best of Class: Beadwork & Quillwork
Rhonda Holy Bear (Cheyenne River Sioux), Lakota Honor-Sees the Horses Woman, doll

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Best of Class: Jewelry
Denise Wallace (Chugach Sugpiaq), Origins, Roots and Sources

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Best of Class: Pottery
Robert Patricio (Acoma), Raining Dawn to Dusk

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Best of Class: Textiles
Tyler Glasses (Navajo/ Diné), Poncho for Days, weaving

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Best of Class: Wooden Pueblo Figurative Carving and Sculpture
Arthur Holmes Jr. (Hopi), Broken Arrow, carvings, cottonwood

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Best of Class: Sculpture
Raymond Chee Sr. (Navajo/Diné), Healing into the Night, sculpture

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Best of Class: Diverse Arts
Dana Warrington (Menominee/Potawatomi), taxidermy, otter wearing leather, quillwork, beadwork, lapidary, silver, weaving and feathers

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Best of Class: Basketry
Jeremey Frey (Passamaquoddy), Malsom (Wolf), double-wall ash basket

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Best of Class: Painting, Drawing, Graphics & Photography
Thomas Tapia (Tesuque), Buffalo Elk Dance, watercolor

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Best of Class: Youth
Aydrian Day (Anishinaabe/Lakota/Hochunk), Mishkiikii Ode (Medicine of the Heart), beaded elk hide bag

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High Fashion

Photography by Tira Howard

SWAIA once again elevated fashion onto another plain at Santa Fe Indian Market. The fashion shows are not only gorgeously produced and lavishly staged by Amber-Dawn Bear Robe (Siksika Nation), but they are putting Native American designers on a world stage to showcase their visions. This year’s designers were Jamie Okuma (Luiseño/Shoshone-Bannock), Pamela Baker (Squamish/ Kwakwaka’wakw), Orlando Dugi (Diné) and Lauren Good Day (Arikara/Hidatsa/ Blackfeet/Plains Cree). Here is a small sampling of some of their fall 2021 designs debuted at market.

Designer: Jamie Okuma (Luiseño/Shoshone-Bannock)