Native Art Week, Indigenous Celebration, Indian Market Week—call it what you want, but it’s a time when the City of Santa Fe explodes with Native art events. Collectors, artists, and arts advocates pour into Northern New Mexico from across the continent and overseas. Having participated as both artists and as organizers, we’d like to share tips for making the most of this exciting and sometimes overwhelming convening.
Lincoln Avenue, SWAIA Santa Fe Indian Market, 2022. All photos: FAAM.
Don’t try to attend everything
It’s impossible. Cherry pick the events that interest you most and plan by neighborhood since parking and Uber/Lyft rides can be hard to come by. Much of downtown Santa Fe is walkable, but other neighborhoods might require driving. These include:
- Museum Hill | SantaFe.org
- Canyon Road | VisitCanyonRoad.com
- Railyard | RailYardSantaFe.com
- Southside | SantaFe.com
- North of town: Pathways Festival, Poeh Center, Roxanne Swentzell’s Tower Gallery, Glenn Green, and more
Wear comfortable walking shoes. Sidewalks can often be uneven. Wear sunscreen and perhaps a hat or carry a parasol.
Bess Murphy, Cannupa Hanska Luger, and friends smashing pottery in “Function,” an interactive art piece at the Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts, 2019.
Weather
Even summer evenings can get chilly. A jacket or other layer is usually wise to carry; however, 2024 will be warm. With the dry climate, lotion and lip balm are advised. To handle the dryness at night, have a glass of water and lip balm next to your bed. Stay hydrated.
Altitude
Especially if you are coming from the coasts, be mindful of the high altitude, which can give you headaches, interfere with your sleep, and even give you bad dreams. Climbing can be particularly tiring. Drinking lots of water helps. Aspirin and chlorophyll can also help. Pace yourself, take breaks. Be aware that drinking alcohol can have a stronger impact at higher altitudes; another reason to drink lots of water! | BetterHealth: Altitude sickness
COVID
COVID-19 has not gone away, and we are now experiencing a summer surge. Hopefully, you have boosted your vaccinations. You might consider masking and frequently using hand sanitizer. If you are vulnerable, you might arrive early to any indoor events and leave early or avoid large indoor events altogether | Waterwater Map
Mutton and frybread entrée by Calabaza’s Native Food of Santo Domingo Pueblo
Dining
Restaurants in the Plaza will be very popular during the week. If you need to eat quickly or are gathering a larger group, restaurants outside of downtown and the Railyard will be more accessible. If your chile is too hot, try sour cream or milk (bases that neutralize the acids in the peppers). Santa Fe Restaurant Guide
Art Markets
At least seven concurrent markets take place during Native Art Week. Through scheduling you can hit most of them!
Opening Friday, August 16
- Pathways Indigenous Arts Festival, August 16–18, Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino, 30 Buffalo Thunder Trail | link
- Case Trading Post Artist’s Market, August 16 & 17, Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian, 704 Camino Lejo on Museum Hill, Friday: 8:00 am–4:00 pm, Saturday: 10:00 am–2:00 pm, also free museum admission from August 15 through 17 | link
- Sovereign Santa Fe, August 16–19, La Fonda on the Plaza, 100 E San Francisco Street, mezzanine and Lumpkins Ballroom, 2nd floor, 10:00 am–7:00 pm | link
- Friday SWAIA Santa Fe Indian Market Award Preview
Santa Fe Community Convention Center, 201 W. Marcy Street
Early sneak peek of award-winners from 2:00–4:00 pm for $100 |link
General preview, 4:30–6:00 pm for $50 | link
Buy your tickets early!
Opening Saturday, August 17
- SWAIA Santa Fe Indian Market, August 17 & 18, Downtown Santa Fe | link
- IAIA Student and Recent Graduate Art Market, August 17 & 18, IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts, 108 Cathedral Place | link
Free Indian Market, August 17 & 18, Federal Park, 8:00 am–5:00 pm | link - Native American Portal Artisans Courtyard Sales, August 17 & 18, New Mexico History Museum, 113 Lincoln Avenue, courtyard, also free museum admission | link, link
The Honestewa Family at the 2019 SWAIA Santa Fe Indian Market.
Saturday morning at Indian Market is for serious collectors. If you plan to buy from a specific artist, head directly to their booth. If you are just browsing, perhaps wait until Saturday afternoon or Sunday to visit booths. If an artist is making a sale, don’t interrupt; just come back later.
Do not ask artists for discounts. Haggling is completely inappropriate at these art markets. Artists in these markets are nationally and some internationally renowned for their work. Artists also often support their families with income from art sales.
Parking
Unless you arrive extremely early in the morning, don’t anticipate finding street parking downtown or north of Alameda Street. You might find street parking around the government buildings on West De Vargas Street and South Capitol Street. Parking garages don’t fill up as quickly. Many temporary parking lots pop up for the weekend; have cash ready to pay $20 or more for the day and perhaps look for those charging a fee to support a good cause. Surprisingly, the lower level of the Santa Fe Community Convention Center, 119 S. Federal Place doesn’t fill up | Street parking map | Parking garage map
2024 Events
Not even close to being comprehensive. Check out these calendars too:
August 14–16: Santa Fe, NM
49th Annual Wheelwright Benefit Event at the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian, 704 Camino Lejo. Free admission. Sale of Native artwork and more to benefit the Wheelwright’s programming and exhibitions | (505) 982-4636 | wheelwright.org/benefit
August 15: Santa Fe, NM
“Indigenous Public Art Interventions” discussion at the Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts, 1590-B Pacheco Street. With Bob Haozous, Joseph Sánchez, Rachelle B. Pablo, and America Meredith. Hosted by First American Art Magazine and the Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts. 10:00–11:00 am, free | (505) 983-6372 | firstamericanartmagazine.com/streets
August 15–18: Santa Fe
Native Cinema Showcase at New Mexico History Museum, 113 Lincoln Avenue, hosted by the National Museum of American Indian and supported by San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. Music and guest appearances: Saturday, August 17, performance by DJ Shub (Mohawk), and by directors Steven Paul Judd (Kiowa/Choctaw Nation), Leya Hale (Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota/Diné), Mariah Hernandez-Fitch (Houma), Tasha Hubbard (Plains Cree) and producer Jason Ryle (Lake Martin Ojibway). Free, first come, first seated | si.edu
August 15–October 2: Santa Fe, NM
Slow Water at Cara Romero Gallery, 333 Montezuma Avenue #5. Summer group exhibition with Leah Mata Fragua, Porfirio Gutiérrez, Ian Kuali’i, Lehuauakea, Erica Lord, and Cara Romero. Opening reception: Thursday, August 15, 4:00–8:00 pm | (505) 218-6588 | cararomero.com
August 16: Santa Fe, NM
Indigenous Ways Festival at Railyard Park, 740 Cerillos Road. Music festival with workshops, 5:00–9:00 pm. Free, all ages, bring your own chair | indigenousways.org
Cippy Crazy Horse (Cochiti) and family at the Case Trading Post Artists Market at the Wheelwright Museum, 2022
August 16 & 17: Santa Fe, NM
4th Annual Case Trading Post Artists Market at the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian, 704 Camino Lejo. Friday: 8:00 am–4:00 pm, Saturday: 10:00 am–2:00 pm | (505) 982-4636 | wheelwright.org/artists-market
August 16–18: Santa Fe, NM
4th Annual Pathways Indigenous Arts Festival at Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casino, 30 Buffalo Thunder Trail. Art market, fashion shows, food, films. Friday and Saturday: 9:00 am–5:00 pm, Sunday: 9:00 am–4:00 pm. Hosted by Poeh Cultural Center | (505) 455-5041 | poehcenter.org/pathways
August 16–18: Santa Fe, NM
Meet the Artists at Keshi the Zuni Connection, 229 Don Gasper Avenue #1. Friday: Sandra Quandelacy and Kateri Quandelacy Sanchez (both Zuni), jewelry and fetish carving, 3:00–5:00 pm. Saturday: Anthony Gchanchu (Zuni), painting, and Hudson Sandy (Zuni), fetish carving, 10:00 am–5:00 pm. Sunday: Ahtony Gchachu and the Hustito Family (all Zuni), fetish carving and jewelry, 10:00 am–5:00 pm | (505) 989-8728 | keshi.com
August 16–18: Santa Fe, NM
Kim and Krystal Obrzut Gallery Show at La Fonda on the Plaza, Lobby, 100 E. San Francisco Street. A collection of more than 20 works, sharing a unique depiction of Hopi life and cultural glimpses of the Native woman in bronze | (623) 570-3398 | seyesnembronze.com
August 16–18: Santa Fe, NM
6th Annual Sovereign Santa Fe: Keepers Of The Land at La Fonda on the Plaza, Lumpkins Ballroom and Mezzanine, 100 E. San Francisco Street. Organized by FaraHNHeight Fine Art | farahnheight.com/sovereign
August 16, 2024–January 5, 2025: Santa Fe, NM
Common Thread: Female Perspectives from the Arctic at the IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts, 108 Cathedral Place | (888) 922-4242 | iaia.edu
August 16, 2024–March 2, 2025: Santa Fe, NM
Arctic Highways: Unbounded Indigenous People at the Museum of Contemporary Native Arts, 108 Cathedral Place | (888) 922-4242 | iaia.edu
August 17: Santa Fe, NM
MacArthur Fellows Teresita Fernández, Natalie Diaz, and Raven Chacon at SITE Santa Fe, 1606 Paseo de Peralta. Performance: 11:00–1:00 pm. Discussion: 2:30–3:30 pm. $10 for performance, $10 for discussion, free for SITE Santa Fe members | (505) 989-1199 | sitesantafe.org
Sculptor and jeweler Adrian Wall (Jemez) performing at the Boxcar, 2017
August 17: Santa Fe, NM
Between 2 Cacti: Voices & Experiences of Indigenous Arts at Drury Plaza Hotel, 828 Paseo De Peralta. Hosted by First Peoples Fund. 2:00–3:00 pm. Panel with Jody Naranjo Folwell-Turipa (Santa Clara Pueblo), Golga Oscar (Yupik), Rico Worl (Tlingit/Athabascan), and George Alexander (Muscogee), moderated by Justin Huenemann (Diné) | (605) 348-0324 | firstpeoplesfund.org
August 17 & 18: Santa Fe, NM
Free Indian Market Show at the Federal Park, 100 S. Federal Place. 8:00–5:00 pm | (505) 670-5918 | freeindianmarket.org
August 17 & 18: Santa Fe, NM
102nd Annual SWAIA Santa Fe Indian Market in downtown Santa Fe | (505) 983-5220 | swaia.org
Through October 19: Santa Fe, NM
Larry McNeil: Raven Dreamt about Light at Foto Forum Santa Fe, 1714 Paseo de Peralta. Opening: Friday, August 9, 5:oo–7:00 pm | (505) 470-2582 | fotoforumsantafe.com
Resources
- Free Indian Market Booth Map | link
- Pathways Indigenous Arts Festival | link
- Santa Fe Indian Market 2024 Artist Directory & Booth Guide (published by SWAIA and Hutton Broadcasting) | link
- SWAIA Santa Fe Indian Market Artist Directory | link
- Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian | link
- Legacy: Northern New Mexico Guide to Native American Arts & Culture, published by the Santa Fe New Mexican | link
- New Mexico True: Native Arts | link
Some Indian Market History
Valerie Verzuh, MIAC curator, and artist Jacob Meders (Mechoopda Maidu) volunteering for SWAIA, 2017
In FAAM No. 35, Summer 2022, Suzanne Newman Fricke and America Meredith wrote “Santa Fe Indian Market Through the Decades,” in which we could dispel some prevalent myths about Santa Fe Indian Market. Kenneth Chapman freely credits Rose Dougan for first suggesting the idea for a Native art competition during Santa Fe Fiesta (Chapman 219). Dougan and her life partner Vera von Blumenthal provided the funds for the pottery prizes. The Southwest Indian Fair and Industrial Arts and Crafts Exhibition opened in the armory on September 4, 1922. Best of Show went to a beadwork collection made by Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux artists from Montana. Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial opened a few weeks later on September 28, 1922.
The first market was hosted by the Museum of New Mexico and the School of American Research (later the School for Advanced Research) and organized for the New Mexico Association on Indian Affairs (NMAIA), a political action group. Smaller markets were held in the Pueblos during World War II.
In 1956, NMAIA launched a juried painting exhibition at Indian Arts Exhibition at the Museum of New Mexico with Native American judges. This competition art show concurrent with Santa Fe Indian Market continued through 1965.
Animkeewa White Eagle (Grand Traverse Odawa-Ojibwe/Kiowa) and his digital artwork at the SWAIA Awards Preview, 2018.
In 1959, the Southwestern Association on Indian Affairs (SWAIA) formed and took over the organization of the Santa Fe Indian Market, which finally gained its own weekend, separate from Fiesta in 1961. Preston Keevama (Hopi), governor of Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, became SWAIA’s vice chairman and Native Americans increasingly served as judges in the 1960s.
Indigenous identity fraud grew as a challenge in the 1970s, so New Mexico strengthened its 1973 Indian Arts and Crafts Law in 1978 and several longtime market artists were discovered to be non-Native. European-American artists Paul and Sara Livingston filed a complaint against SWAIA for being racist by only allowing Native American artists. Their complaint was dismissed.
The first Native American woman to lead SWAIA was textile artist and designer Ramona Sakiestewa (Hopi) who served as president from 1980 to 1982. SWAIA only had one employee at the time, and Sakiestewa’s position was as an unpaid volunteer; however, she fundraised enough so her successor was the first salaried director.
By 1990, Santa Fe Indian Market boasted 1,000 artists and expanded to 1,200 by 1992.
In 2010, classifications expanded to include basketry and film, which was later removed. In 2015, SWAIA launched Indian Market: Edge, an exhibition of painting and sculpture in the Santa Fe Community Convention Center.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, SWAIA was forced to go virtual in 2020, but was back live in 2021 and celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2022.
