Todd Westika talks about his special chess set

One of the highlights at Indian Market in 2011 was a conversation with Todd Westika in which he told us about a special request he received from a deployed US serviceman for a custom designed chess set. It's an interesting story, as recorded on videotape (below)







Here's a still photo of the chess set, taken at Zuni.



We also acquired a number of Todd Westika's new Zuni fetish carvings, which will be posted to our ZuniLink.com in a couple of weeks.

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SWAIA ANNOUNCES 2011 POSTER ARTISTS

As members of Southwestern Association for Indian Arts, Aboriginals: Art of the First Person and its associated websites offering authentic Native American jewelry, hand-made Native American Pueblo Pottery and Zuni fetish carvings, are happy to publish the following news concerning SWAIA's 2011 Santa Fe Indian Market
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(SANTA FE, NM) The Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA) will unveil the Official 2011 Santa Fe Indian Market poster on Friday, May 20 at the Hotel Santa Fe (1501 Paseo De Peralta Santa Fe, NM) 6:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.

Brother and sister Tulane John and Myleka John (Dine) have been selected as the 2011 Santa Fe Indian Market Poster artists. Tulane (13 years-old) and Myleka (12 years-old) live in Phoenix, AZ. Their father is renowned sculptor, Alvin John. Both of these young artists are painters and will create a collaborative work of art for the poster. The image will also be incorporated into 2011 Santa Fe Indian Market Merchandise.

The selection for the 2011 poster artists is relevant in several ways. This is the first collaborative work of art to be selected for the Indian Market poster and they are the youngest artists ever to be selected. As a tribute to the 90th Anniversary of the Santa Fe Indian Market, SWAIA decided to search for a youth artist (15 years-old or younger) to design an image for its poster to recognize the future of Indian Market.

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Aboriginals: Art of the First Person and its associated web sites at Native-JewelryLink.com, Native-PotteryLink.com, TribalWorks.com and ZuniLink.com salutes the just announced winners of the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA) 2010 Fellowship Awards

The Southwestern Association for Indian Arts is primarily known as the producer of the Santa Fe Indian Market. For almost 90 years, the Indian Market has been the progenitor of Native art and design. What may not be obvious on the surface, however, is SWAIA's organizational role as a true advocate for Native artists. One of its primary directives is to support Native through various educational programs.

Since 1980, the SWAIA Fellowship Program has been the centerpiece of support and guidance for emerging and established Native artists. Thirty years later the Fellowship Program has been reinvented to provide unprecedented access and resources to Native artists like no other program in the world.

SWAIA is proud to introduce the 2010 Artist Fellowship Winners. Paired with the prestige and power of the Santa Fe Indian Market, the SWAIA Fellows are poised to transcend the limits of Native expression. The artists will be presented with their awards at SWAIA's Honoring Reception on Thursday, June 10, 2010. Details for the event TBA.

The Fellowships have been divided into two categories:
Residency Fellowships and Discovery Fellowships

Residency Fellowship

In collaboration with the Santa Fe Art Institute, SWAIA has established the SWAIA Residency Fellowships-a one-month residency for Native artists during August 2010.

"The Santa Fe Art Institute is pleased and proud to collaborate with SWAIA on the newly developed Residency Fellowship Program. SWAIA's history of recognizing and honoring excellence in the arts, and working to support the careers of emerging and established Native artists meshes beautifully with the SFAI's fundamental goal of supporting the contemporary art and artists that make a difference in the world," Michelle Laflamme-Childs, Residency & Marketing/PR Director for SFAI says.

Residency Fellows will receive:

• One-month Artist Residency at the Santa Fe Art Institute in August 2010 (Includes lodging, studio space and basic foods)
• A $5,000 monetary award
• A complimentary Fellowship Booth at the 2010 Santa Fe Indian Market
• Recognition at the SWAIA Honoring Reception (June 2010)
• Press Coverage
• Exhibit at Patina Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
• Santa Fe Art Institute Open Studio Event
  

2010 Discovery Fellowship

The SWAIA Discovery Fellowship is designed for Native artists to explore their creative process and push the boundaries of their respective art forms. Whether the art form is traditional or contemporary or if the artists are emerging or established, SWAIA encouraged applications from artists expanding the vitality of their work into undefined areas. As in previous years, fellowships funds may be used to purchase materials. Nevertheless, consideration was given to applicants, who plan to use the funds for ancillary art study or travel and research.

Discovery Fellows will receive:

• A $5,000 monetary award
• A complimentary Fellowship Booth at the 2010 Santa Fe Indian Market
• Recognition at the SWAIA Honoring Reception (June 2010)
• Press Coverage
• Exhibit at Patina Gallery, Santa Fe, NM

2010 SWAIA Residency Fellowship Winners


Hoka Skenandore
(Oneida/Ogala/Luiseno)
Painter

"I feel honored that SWAIA has chosen me as one of the three recipients of the residency fellowship, and feel that the organization has honored it's commitment to showcasing contemporary art and artists. Being able to work alongside other artists at the Santa Fe Art Institute also shows the importance of Native American Art in the larger art community."


Hoka Skenadore was born in Santa Fe in 1982 at the Indian Hospital. He grew up in Albuquerque with a short stint at the Laguna Reservation where his mother taught school. As a pre-teen Hoka began to enter local arts contests and won one with a drawing that was later turned into a billboard. By high school, he had developed a keen interest in graffiti art and finished his high school years studying street art at an alternative high school in Albuquerque. After graduation Hoka worked at VSA Arts of New Mexico, a non-profit arts organization dedicated to working with adults with disabilities. As an Americorps volunteer he met master muralist, A.G. Joe Stephenson, who became his mentor and teacher. In 2001, Hoka participated in his first SWAIA Indian Market, and was awarded 2nd Place in the New Directions Category for painting. He completed his BFA in Studio Arts at IAIA in 2006 and currently works in the sign industry in Albuquerque. His work was most recently shown at the Berlin Gallery in Phoenix, AZ.

Peterson Yazzie
(Dine)
Painter

"I have invested a lot of time and effort to get my art to where it's at, with no short cuts. I am very happy and excited to finally have my art seen by the larger public, on a stage as grand as the SWAIA Fellowship! When I started painting I started with nothing more than hope and effort, I didn't have a well known or legendary family name to build my name upon. I am very thankful and excited for the opportunity; there couldn't have been a better time in my career for such a prestigious award!"


Peterson Yazzi is from Greasewood Springs Arizona and has been painting since 1997 when he held a paintbrush for the first time as a junior in high school. By graduation, Peterson had art scholarships to Northland Pioneer College, University of Evansville, and a monetary scholarship from the Heard Museum along with a week-long art internship to Northern Arizona University. Since then he has won many awards and recognitions from art shows such as: Heard Museum Indian Art Show, Santa Fe Indian Market, Eight Northern Pueblos Indian Art Show, Small Wonders Native American Art Show with Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, White Mountain Native American Art Festival and many more. He has received art fellowships from Eiteljorg Museum and the Vermont Studio Center. He received his AFA and BFA from the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe and his MFA from the University of New Mexico. www.petersonyazzie.com


Jason Reed Brown
(Koyukon Athabascan)
Blacksmith

Jason Reed Brown earned an Associate of Fine Arts degree from the Institute of American Indian Arts and is a graduate of Turley Forge School of Blacksmithing in Santa Fe, NM. Throughout his years as a blacksmith, Jason has been featured in various American Indian Art Exhibitions and commissioned award-winning sculptures. Jason has been fortunate to work with Tom Joyce Architectural Blacksmithing for the past ten years, truly immersing him into the wide world of blacksmithing. Jason focuses his artwork on translating the beauty of Northwest Coastal Indian art into hand-forged ironwork.


2010 Discovery Fellowship Winners

Kenneth Williams
(Arapaho/Seneca)
Beadwork

"My thoughts come with excitement as well as deep and humble thankfulness. Being chosen as one of the 2010 fellowship winners is a great honor to me, as well as to my work. I feel very grateful to be chosen alongside with the other wonderful fellowship winners. Winning this fellowship is also an honor to my family and the teachings I have learned from them."


Kenneth Williams is a beadworker. He was born into this artistic tradition and has had the benefit of generations' worth of knowledge and experience passed onto him. He began observing and experimenting with beadwork when he was six years old while living on his father's reservation, the Cattaraugus Seneca Indian Territory in western New York. As a teenager, he moved to Utah and began to spend more time with mother's family at the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming. His family, the Spoonhunters, have long been regarded as master beadworkers. Their influence and guidance came at a pivotal time for him, such that their support and inspiration spurred him to start bigger projects like dolls, bags, cradleboards, and moccasins. He graduated from the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Museum Studies. He also studied with master beadworker Teri Greeves.

David Boxley
(Alaskan Tsimshian)
Sculpture/Painting/Diverse Arts

"I am very proud to have won this fellowship. It gives me the opportunity to not only come to Santa Fe for the first time to show my art and abilities, but as important, I will bring Tsimshian dancing, masks, drums, regalia and all. I am looking forward to sharing Northwest Native traditions with our friends in the Southwest."


David Boxley is a Tsimshian carver from Metlakatla, Alaska. Born in 1952, he was raised by his grandparents. From them he learned many Tsimshian traditions including the language. After high school he attended Seattle Pacific University where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1974. He became a teacher and basketball coach to Junior and Senior high students in Alaska and Washington. While teaching in Metlakatla in 1979 he began devoting considerable time to the study of traditional Tsimshian carving. Through researching ethnographic material and carvings from museum collections, Boxley has learned the traditional carving methods of his grandfather's people. David has been directly involved in the formation of four successful dance groups: one in his home village of Metlakatla, Alaska, and others in Seattle, Washington. He led the Tsimshian Haayuuk for 6 years, and now has a new group called the Git-Hoan (people of the Salmon). David has written over 40 songs in his Native language, and carved many masks, rattles, paddles and other performance items. David Boxley is the first Alaskan Tsimshian to achieve national prominence; he is particularly well respected as a totem pole carver, having carved 65 poles in the last 26 years. In all of David Boxley' s works of art, from totem poles, box drums to prints, he emphasizes Tsimshian style. In the recent resurgence of Native American cultural traditions, artists have become the culture bearers for their tribes. Boxley accepts this responsibility not only in his carving accomplishments, but by bringing the traditions he has learned in his path to being a carver back to his home village.


D.Y. Begay
(Dine)
Weaver

"My initial reaction when I learned heard the announcement was an exhalation of joy and relief. I was extremely pleased. My trip to Cusco, Peru to participate in the "Gathering of the Weavers of the Americas" is a "dream come true"! I had been invited to attend this event but didn't have the financial resources to attend.
The fellowship will provide an extraordinary opportunity for me to go to Peru and participate in this very important gathering of international weavers."

D.Y. is Dine'. She was born to the Totsohnii Clan, the Big Water people, and born for the Tachii'nii Clan, Red Streak Earth people. She is a fourth generation weaver; her unique weaving style has been handed down through generations. D.Y.'s weavings encompass a personal interpretation of the beauty of the high desert where she grew up on the Navajo reservation. She uses the same techniques passed down from her ancestors to create designs that have artistic and intriguing values reflecting her roots. Her paternal grandmother taught her how to card and spin wool and to pick plants for dyeing the yarn to obtain the varied and subtle colors she uses in her weavings. She has exhibited her work all over the world and is included in such museum collections as the Roswell Museum and Art Center, Roswell, NM, Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian, Santa Fe, NM, National Museum of the American Indian Smithsonian Institute, New York City; Kennedy Museum of Art, Athens, OH; Mesa Art Center, Mesa, AZ; National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland.
www.navajo-indian.com

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Indian Market Top Awards - Native American art

News from Aboriginals: Art of the First Person; TribalWorks, ZuniLink, Native-JewelryLink and Native-PotteryLink

Date Line: Santa Fe, New Mexico, August 22,2009
Reported by William Waites.

The 88th Annual SWAIA Santa Fe Indian Market Awards were announced Friday, August 21 at the Members' Sneak Preview at the Santa Fe Convention Center.

Best of Show - Darryl and Rebecca Begay - Belt with cast silver conch-type figures representing "Return from the Long Walk"

(Also Winner of Best of Classification I - Jewelry)

Best of Classification II - Dominique Toya - Swirl Fluted Pot

Best of Classification III - Paintings, Drawings, Graphics & Photography - Jason Garcia

Best of Classification V - Sculpture - Vincent Kaydahzinnie - Bronze Tableau

Best of Classification VI - Textiles & Basketry - Barbara Ornelas - Weaving

Best of Classification VII - Diverse Art Forms - Therese Tohtsoni - Cabinet

Best of Classification VIII - Beadwork & Quillwork - Jamie Okuma - Beaded Figure

Best of Classification IX - Youth (17 years and under) Danielle Weahkee

Standards Award - Joseph Youngblood-Lugo - black on black incised pot

Standards Award -Darryl Growing Thunder - ledger paper art

Standards Award - Diane Douglas-Willard - small lidded basket

Artists' choice - Peer award for exceptional innovation in any media -Jackie Bread

Best of Division -Beadwork and Quillwork -Articles of Attire -Juanita Growing Thunder Fogarty

Many more Division Awards were presented. They will be included in future Tribal Artery blogs.

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Tribal Art - Whitehawk announces 2009 shows

Whitehawk has announced the dates and venues for its 2009 Ethnographic Art Show and 2009 Antique Indian Art Show.

The Ethnographic Art Show, the 26th annual staging, will run Saturday and Sunday, August 15 and 16, 2009 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with a preview opening on Friday, August 14, 2009 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

The 31st annual Antique Indian Art Show will have a preview opening on Monday, August 17, 2009 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, followed by shows on Tuesday and Wednesday, August 18 and 19, 2009 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Both shows are to be held at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center.

The shows are harbingers of the world-famous Santa Fe Indian Market, which will take place throughout downtown Santa Fe on Saturday, August 23 and Sunday, August 24, 2009.

The Whitehawk shows always are well-attended and include outstanding dealers and other exhibitors. For more information about the Whitehawk Shows, visit Whitehawkshows.com. For more information about Indian Market, go to SWAIA.com, the web site for the South West Association for Indian Arts.Street scene at Indian Market 2008. Artists' Booths line San Francisco Street,
with St. Francis Cathedral in the background.

This particular week in Santa Fe is a time of incessant activity. Accommodations book up early. If you don't have your place to stay already, its important to line it up now. When doing so, consider that Santa Fe Trails, the local bus company, runs shuttles from certain parking areas so it is not necessary to stay right on top of the action.

If you can't find vacancies in Santa Fe, an alternative is to stay in Albuquerque and ride the new Railrunner train service from Albuquerque to Santa Fe. There's also a Days Inn in Bernalillo that is just two blocks from the local stop of the Railrunner. Actually, we will probably ride the Railrunner at least one day while there, even though we have a local Santa Fe room booked, simply because I am kind of nutty about trains.

Yes, this is rather early notice. But, with Indian Market week, if you don't act fast, you lose out.

As indicated, Susanne and William Waites plan to be in New Mexico for Indian Market and associated events. As collectors and dealers in tribal art, we enjoy seeing all of our old friend artists and their latest work, and all of our fellow dealers.

Items acquired at the time eventually appear on our Web sites: ZuniLink.com featuring top quality fetish carvings by Zunis, Cochitis and residents of San Felipe Pueblo; Native-JewelryLink.com for outstanding and unique items of handmade Indian jewelry; Native-PotteryLink.com for creations of historic and contemporary Pueblo and Native American pottery. We also offer African tribal art, Australian Aboriginal art, Arctic-Inuit art and Navajo Folk Art at our fourth Web site, TribalWorks.com

Thanks for reading. If you plan to be in Santa Fe when we are, give us a shout now and we will look for opportunities to meet up there.

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What does it take to win an award at Indian Market

Not everyone artist who enters the Indian market awards program wins an award, although with Best of Classification Awards, First Place Awrds, Second Place Awards & Third Place Awards, there are plenty of opportunities for recognition.

We couldn't photograph them all. Here is a random selection of the top winners. (And, at the end, a look at the crowds and booths that fill the streets and plaza of Santa Fe for two days of Indian Market.)

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Putting the "WOW" in Pow Wow - at Santa Fe Indian Market clothing contest

One of the most popular events at Indian market is the native American clothing contest. It takes place in the Sunday morning of the last day of market at the Plaza in downtown Santa Fe.

Tribal members dress in traditional Pow Wow garb and regalia, and compete for cash prizes as judge by a distinguished panel of "experts". Winners are selected based on completeness of outfit, authenticity to the instant tribes traditions and general attractiveness.

As you look at these outfits, you might be tempted to say that they put the "WOW" in Pow Wow.

We offer the following videos, shot in two parts in order to meet the maximum length allowed by YouTube, where they are hosted. For more close-up stills, after viewing the videos scroll down tothe last preceding postings.

We hope you enjoy the show as much as we did. Of course, there is no substitute for being there. If you didn't make it this year, perhaps in 2008?


Here's part one.


Here's part two.


Thanks for your interest and attention from Susanne Waites and William Ernest Waites, proprietors of native American art web sites at Native-JewelryLink, Native-PotteryLink, TribalWorks and ZuniLink. Come visit us.

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Best of Show Announcement and the bead work that won

You already know that Dallin Maybee, Seneca/Arapaho, won Best of Show in the 86th annual SWIAI Santa Fe Indian Market art awards.

But have you seen the announcement? Click on this video to see it.



Have you had a close look at the work itself. Click on this video to see a pan across the beautiful bead work that won.


These video "snapshots" from Santa Fe Indian Market 2007 are presented by William Ernest Waites, co-owner with Susanne Waites of Aboriginals: Art of the First Person and the galleries associated web sites at ZuniLink, for outstanding Native American "fetish" carvings, Native-JewelryLink, for beautiful Native American Indian jewelry, Native-PotteryLink, for the finest in hand-made Native American and Pueblo Indian pottery, and TribalWorks, for Navajo folk art, arctic art, and Australian Aboriginal art and African Tribal Art.

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Black Eagle singers from Jemez perform at Indian Market Art Awards

Among the highlights of the SWIAI 2007 Santa Fe Indian Market Awards presentation was this blessing by the Jemez Pueblo Black Eagle singers.





We hope you enjoy it as much as we did. We have often heard singers and drummers from a distance at various pow wows. It is something more moving to be standing on the edge of the circle.

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SWAIA SANTA FE INDIAN MARKET BEST OF CLASS AWARDS

As promised, here is a video (partial) of the Best of Class Awards being announced at the Santa Fe Indian Market Art Awards. This partial video includes IAIA Distinguished Alumni - America Meredith (Cherokee),
Jewelry - Ric Charlie (Navajo),
Pottery - Rainy Naha (Hopi).

Painting, etc - William B. Franklin - Navajo,
Wooden Pueblo Carvings - Kevin Sekakuku (Hopi),

Beadwork/Quill Work - Dallin Maybee (Seneca/Northern Arapaho),

Helen Naha Memorial Award - Gloria Kahe (Navajo) (Picture not available).

More Art Award videos will be coming in future blog messages. Thank you for your attention.


This coverage of Indian Market 2007 is brought to you by writer, William Ernest Waites, who also co-owns Aboriginals Gallery with Susanne Waites, and associated web sites at ZuniLink, Native-JewelryLink, Native-PotteryLink and TribalWorks

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Backstage at Santa Fe Opera : How do they do it?

On Tuesday afternoon, Susanne and I showed up for a tour of the Santa Fe Opera venue. Docents divided the 40-some guests that had arrived for the tour into three groups of twelve. Our docent and her docent-in-training assistant started us off in the big bucks seats. Down in the first few rows, they go $150 (est) each .

Immediately in front of the first row of seats, separating them from the stage, is a open-top tank filled with water. The docent assures us that it is not a “moat” designed to protect the cast from the audience, or vice versa. It was installed when the original stage was in stalled and the entire opera “house” was open to the sky. The water provided a boost to the acoustic quality.

Every seat back in the opera house has an electronic libretto display the presents a translation of the lyrics being sung in the theatrical language of the opera – Italian, Spanish, English, German, Russian or whatever language the opera’s librettist wrote in. Audience members may choose English or Spanish translations.

The first Santa Fe Opera facility seated about 400. The current opera house, which was built to replace the original when it burned down, seats more than 2000. When rebuilt, a roof was added over the stage and the first floor of seats, also known as the orchestra.

Later, a roof also was added over the mezzanine seats. But the open air quality of the venue was not completely abandoned. The stage can be opened at the rear so that the audience can view a performance against a scenic New Mexico backdrop.

The orchestra pit is on an elevator that lowers the musicians out of sight. Similarly, there is a elevator behind the stage. It is used primarily for raising sets and props to the stage level from a loading dock. It also can be used as a device for raising cast members such as a chorus as part of a performance.

The wings of the stage have a series of doors that can be opened to allow performers to enter and leave as part of the performance. They also allow sets and props to brought onstage, important because the stage has no fly-away space for sets.

In the wings, each door has a light over it so that a performer can be cued when it is time to enter. The lights are controlled by the stage manager, whose station also controls other aspects of the performance including lighting.

Off of stage right are the dressing rooms and make-up rooms for the performers. Male majors and female majors have separate rooms that include dressers and make-up artists. We visited when La Boheme was to be performed the next evening. The performers’ hats, labeled by the name of the performer and the role he or she was playing, were on manikin heads on shelves above the dressing table and make-up mirrors.

The dressing rooms for the minor male and females, are larger rooms but do not include dressers or make-up artists. Each performer is expected to dress himself or herself and apply their own make-up. Behind the dressing rooms is the costume shop where are fabrics cut and dyed, costumes sewn, and stored between performances.

Behind that is the wig room. As one would imagine, wigs play a large role in operas, with period pieces and extravagantly dramatic performances being staged. The wig master is not employed by the Santa Fe Opera but is a private contractor who is signed by the opera for the season. He has worked for several different operas. He does not have to solicit work since his reputation in the world of opera is such that the producers come to him. When his season is over at Santa Fe, he will takes his wigs to the Dallas Opera.

While almost all his wigs are made with human hair, white wigs as used in roles for judges, diplomats and males of the 17th and 18th centuries, are made from yak hair. We are told that human hair deteriorates too rapidly when dyed white.

For this season, with its variety of off-beat operas, the wig options are varied and colorful.

At the conclusion of the stage and backstage tour, we are told about the adjacent building, which replicates the main stage area of the theater itself. It is used for blocking stage movements and for rehearsal when the next opera must be rehearsed while the current opera’s sets and props are still in place. It is also the scene for a series of free talks offered to ticket holders about an hour and a half before each performance. This allows the audience to have prior knowledge of many of the night’s performance, and fits the social nature of a night at the opera, wherethose attending he opera are encouraged to bring or purchase picnic lunches and dine al fresco before the night’s performance.

William Ernest Waites and Susanne Waites, proprietors of online galleries at ZuniLink, Native-JewelryLink, Native-PotteryLInk and TribalWorks, are in Santa Fe for Indian Market, about which this blog will concern itself in the coming days. In the meantime, a visit to Santa Fe without a visit tothe Santa Fe Opera would be a shame. The Waites are scheduled to attend a performance in the next week.

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Unique Concho Belt offered in SWAIA fundraiser

Over 50 and Fabulous!

Concho Belt Inspired by Indian Market Traditions

Ten jewelry stars of the Santa Fe Indian Market have come together to make one extraordinary piece: the “Over 50 and Fabulous” concho belt that will be sold to the highest bidder at the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts’ (SWAIA) annual fundraising auction.

Inspired by the collaborative concho belt created in 2001 (which featured up and coming jewelers and also holds the title as the first collaborative piece SWAIA made available) this belt instead honors a group comprised of “over 50” jewelers who have earned reputations as some of the finest jewelers in the country.

Each concho reflects the unique style of each artist, but when placed together form a one-of-a-kind, museum quality piece. Artists include Martine Lovato (Santo Domingo Pueblo), Gibson Nez (Navajo), Richard Chavez (San Felipe Pueblo), Naveek (Navajo), Jake Livingston (Navajo), Jennie Vicenti (Zuni Pueblo), Harvey Begay (Navajo), Victoria Adams (Southern Cheyenne), and ranger set by Michael NanaPing Garcia (Pascua Yaqui). Edith Tsabetsaye (Zuni) will also be donating a concho.

Michael NanaPing Garcia, Vice-Chair of the SWAIA Board, thought of the idea as a member of the auction gala committee. “This gives someone the chance to purchase a piece by some of the master jewelers of the 21st century, while also supporting the organization that sustains the livelihood of over 1100 artists nationwide.”

This is a once-in-a lifetime chance to bid on this amazing piece! For more information on the SWAIA auction gala and how you can attend, please call 505.983.5220. Tickets are $135/person or $1250/table of ten and sell out quickly. To preview the concho belt, plus additional items that will be available at the auction, please visit: www.swaia.org/live_auction_items.php.

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