Through July 23, 2023 | Albuquerque Museum | Albuquerque, NM

Evolution

An exhibition at the Albuquerque Museum celebrates the creative prowess of artists who have attended the Santa Fe Indian Market over the years.

An exhibition currently on view at the Albuquerque Museum highlights a collection of ceramics, beadwork, prints, paintings and other artwork produced by award-winning Native American artists, most of whom have participated in the iconic Santa Fe Indian Market. Titled Indigenous Art, Culture, and Community, the show is both a celebration and an exploration of the ways in which artistic creativity has been at the forefront of Indian Market for the last century. With objects coming from the collection of Ruth and Sidney Schultz (who attended and supported Indian Market for more than 50 years), the exhibition shines a bright light on this legacy.

Jamie Okuma (Luiseño/Shoshone-Bannock), Beaded High Heeled Boots, 2011, hand-beaded Louboutin boots, 19 x 3½ x 8½”. Gift of the estate of Ruth and Sidney Schultz.

More than 50 works coming from 35-plus artists will be on display for visitors to ponder and admire. Among these are some of the biggest names in Native art, like Jamie Okuma, Sandra Okuma, Charlene Holy Bear, Lonnie Vigil, Benjamin Harjo Jr., Chris Pappan, Teri Greeves, Marcus Amerman and Les Namingha.

Les Namingha (Tewa-Hopi/Zuni), Kiva Birds, 1994, stone polished and fired clay with pigment, 8 x 12 x 12”. Gift of the estate of Ruth and Sidney Schultz.

“Indigenous Art, Culture, and Community is a celebration of the ongoing creativity, skill and ingenuity of Native artists and the community that is created through Santa Fe’s Indian Market,” says Andrew Connors, Albuquerque Museum director.

Chris Pappan (Kaw/Osage/Cheyenne River Sioux), Kaw II, 21st Century Ledger Drawing #24, 2010, graphite on ledger paper, 16 x 13¼”. Gift of the estate of Ruth and Sidney Schultz.

Just as Indian Market has grown and changed dramatically during its 100-year history, so have its artists—continuously evolving their art practices, expanding their minds and stretching the limits of their creativity. And the artwork highlighted in Indigenous Art, Culture, and Community covers everything from dazzling beaded boots by Jamie Okuma; a bead, thread and cloth depiction of a Rolling Stone cover by Amerman; beautiful pottery by Namingha; acrylic painting by Anthony Chee Emerson and more.

Sandra Okuma (Luiseño/Shoshone-Bannock), Unknown Title (Beaded Purse), early 21st-century glass seed beads, thread, leather, plastic, bells, metal clasp and rope with metallic thread, 10¼ x 5 x ¾”. Gift of the estate of Ruth and Sidney Schultz.

“We’re extremely grateful that for decades…Ruth Schultz encouraged the Albuquerque Museum to collect broadly, consistently and support Native artists as they did. This gift from their family creates a lasting legacy to their passion,” Connors adds.

Benjamin Harjo Jr. (Absentee Shawnee/Seminole), Earth and Sky, ca. 2010, acrylic and gouache on paper, 3½ x 3½”. Gift of the estate of Ruth and Sidney Schultz.

Indigenous Art, Culture, and Community: Works from the Ruth and Sidney Schultz Collection will be on view at the Albuquerque Museum through July 23. This year’s Indian Market takes place in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on August 19 and 20.

Through July 23, 2023
Indigenous Art, Culture, and Community
Albuquerque Museum 2000 Mountain Road NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104
(505) 243-7255, www.cabq.gov