Every August/September, we invite the executive director of the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts, or SWAIA, to write a brief letter to welcome readers into our coverage of Santa Fe Indian Market. Starting in 2023, Jamie Schulze, who has been triumphantly leading Indian Market into its second century, has represented SWAIA with this brief note to our readers. You can read this year’s welcome on Page 89.
I want to draw your attention to one particular part. There is a remarkable line in her letter that has rung out to me from the moment I first read it. She writes, “Thank you for showing up with curiosity, care and respect.”
I’ve been coming to Santa Fe Indian Market for 10 years, and if you had to boil the market down to just three words, there are no better options than “curiosity,” “care” and “respect.” What’s so wonderful about those words is how they work in both directions: from the visitors to the artists, and from the artists to the many guests, collectors and friends who descend upon Santa Fe, New Mexico, for this time-honored show.
For those attending market, some perhaps for the first time, I hope these three words help guide you as you visit with artists, ask questions, inquire about purchasing art and learn about how (and why) art is made by these artists. Market is not just an opportunity to shop for your personal art collection, although we certainly hope you leave Santa Fe with something new. Market is also a time to learn about different cultures. I’ve written in this space before about the importance of asking questions, and I still believe that is the best way to learn and get to know the artists. But then also listen. Really listen, with your whole heart. What you will walk away with is immeasurable.
I hope to see you at Santa Fe Indian Market this year. There is truly nothing like it anywhere else in the country.
Michael Clawson
Executive Editor
mclawson@nativeamericanartmagazine.com
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