The Inn of the Governors welcomes a full house (many of those being repeat guests) each year for the Santa Fe Indian Market. This week’s blog details the Southwestern Association of Indian Art (SWAIA) market’s 93rd year beginning today, August 18 and ending Sunday, August 24.
SWAIA’s market brings together artists from the United States and represents the world’s largest Native American arts show. We are quite blessed that this event takes place in Santa Fe and I invite you to read through the following paragraphs to plan your visit.
Today, Monday, August 18 at 7pm marks the beginning of this year’s Native Cinema showcase. Here’s the link for the full schedule. Screenings are FREE, but seating is on a first come, first serve basis. Just walk three blocks north of the Inn and view any of these showcased films at the New Mexico History Museum auditorium. There’s something for everyone, from children to adults, and each will find one film that touches them in a very memorable way.
Join Daniel Gibson at Collected Works bookstore on Wednesday, August 20 at 5:30pm for a book signing on his new book, Kevin Red Star. Red Star is a renowned Crow Native American painter and also a visual historian for his people and culture. Since the space is small, I recommend arriving early. The bookstore is a local favorite and located just a few blocks from the Inn.
On Thursday, August 21 from 5pm-7pm there will be a tribute to Allan Houser in the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture courtyard. Join Santa Fe Indian Market artists and designers as they celebrate “Legends, Legacy and Living Artists”. There is a fee of $100 per person or $75 for museum or SWAIA members. Afterwards, I would stay for the FREE concert on Museum hill with A Tribe Called Red. It is from 8pm-10pm and you could catch a quick bite at the Museum Hill Café in-between the events.
The Best of Show Ceremony and Luncheon takes place on August 22, Friday from 11:30am-2pm at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center (SFCCC) and tickets are available to all SWAIA members at 505-983-5220 x223. Afterwards, you can walk over the NM History museum for the FREE 5th annual State of the Arts Symposium which begins at 3pm. Also, if you are a SWAIA member you can get the Sneak Preview at 5:30pm-7:30pm at the SFCCC. This allows for the early preview of the Santa Fe Indian market award winning art that the artists have brought this year. General public preview begins at 7:30pm and lasts until 9:30pm.
At last, the full market opens on Saturday, August 23 and runs both weekend days with fun filled events on the plaza and surrounding streets; including music, fashion shows and artisans displaying their best work. Arrive early, (some do as early as 7am) and stay late to experience the full cultural exchange of this weekend. Here’s the link for specific lineups and times of the weekend events. I have also included this link to Frequently Asked Questions as I found it to be very helpful in detailing just what Santa Fe Indian market is. Enjoy the week and be sure to check out the special events happening at the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, the NM Museum of History, the numerous events at the Museum of Contemporary Native American Arts - all in connection with the Santa Fe Indian Market week. Safe travels, Deb Swanson
