1 Don’t miss the Indian Market weekend.
The largest gathering of indigenous arts in the world, Santa Fe Indian market is taking the City Different by storm this weekend. Hundreds of artist booths spanning 12 blocks surrounding the plaza showcase ceramics, paintings, photographs, prints, drawings, book art, textiles and more. Additionally, the Indian Market features fashion shows, parties, performances and side events that highlight and celebrate the beauty and diversity of indigenous cultures. Its heritage and artist roster are unmatched.
Pathways Festival for Indigenous Arts is bringing more Indigenous artists to showcase their work at the Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino in Pojoaque. Led by the Pueblo of Pojoaque Tribal Program, this event features over 350 Indigenous artists selling their work, a fashion show, and the “Poeh-chella” festival, which includes numerous live music performances, films produced by Indigenous artists, and food vendors. The event is open August 16-18.
The IndigenousWays Festival focuses on the musical side of the Indigenous arts, which touches the hearts of founders Tash Terry and Elena Higgins, who are musicians and graduates of the Institute of American Indian Arts. At the Santa Fe Railyard Park on Friday from 5-9 p.m., you can catch performances by Pura Fé (Tuscarora/Taino), Wade Fernandez (Menominee), and Simona Rael. IndigenousWays also offers face painting, Wise Fool puppet performances, and other hands-on activities.
It is hard to take your eyes off the glass art of Tlingit artist Preston Singletary. His use of translucent and opaque textures makes his pieces seem like ancient deities with inner luminosity. Singletary’s 40-year practice is evident in the glass sculptures he creates and in a new work, The raven opened the door to the oceanwhich opens Friday at Blue Rain Gallery in Santa Fe. The exhibition features works inspired by traditional stories and deserves special attention. Attend an opening reception Friday from 5-7 p.m. and watch Singletary at work during an artist demonstration Friday and Saturday starting at 11 a.m.
The Santa Fe Railyard becomes another center of activity during the Indian Market with the Indigenous future forever Fashion show hosted by 4Kinship by designer Amy Denet Deal. In collaboration with Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week, Supernaturals Models, Snotty Nose Rez Kids and artists from Turtle Island, the immersive fashion show combines elements of performance art and live music on Saturday at 5 p.m.
The free Off the Rails! concert at the Santa Fe Railyard includes live DJ sets from multidisciplinary artist Jaque Fragua (Jemez Pueblo) aka Mobil Savage, DJ Jon Ray (Laguna/Acoma Pueblos) and more on Saturday from 4-10 p.m.
The Lumpkins Ballroom and Mezzanine at Hotel La Fonda on the Plaza host Sovereign Santa Feand exhibition of contemporary indigenous art Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Indigenous artists from pueblos and tribes across the country exhibit and sell their works during the immersive show. Sovereign Santa Fe puts fashion in the spotlight during Confidently fita two-day ticketed fashion show taking place on Friday and Saturday nights. Don’t miss Petroglypha 1973 Dodge Dart painted by artist Jessie Littlebird (Laguna/Kewa Pueblos) with Pueblo pottery-inspired designs, a tribute to Littlebird’s childhood dreams and her mixed heritage.
