It is about the people
On a very rainy August day fifty two years ago, our plan was to camp at Hyde Park in the mountains near Santa Fe. But because of the rain, we checked into the El Rey Court, and then drove to the Plaza. Little did we know when we ventured into the Plaza that the 50th Indian Market was in progress. Then, as now the first response to the hundreds of booths, and number of people was excitement, and amazement, followed by a sense of wanting to buy a little bit of everything. It can be overwhelming. But It remains is a very special event. Sponsored by Edgar Lee Hewitt, director of the Museum of New Mexico, and curator Kenneth Chapman, the first market took place in 1922. Now in 2024, the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA) Santa Fe Indian Market, featured over 1,000 juried artists. Over the years and generations of artists, the variety and style of work has changed to a certain extent, with fashion becoming more and more a part of the market. Along with traditional pottery, jewelry, and weaving, more apparel was featured this year, including many more hats of different varieties. Younger artisans are leading the way in painting and photography as well. Artists Cody Sanderson and Kenneth Johnson designed a one-of-a-kind motorcycle for Indian Motorcycles. The 2025 Indian Scout Bobber is being auctioned online. "All funds raised will go to SWAIA as unrestricted support for our artists."
One thing has not changed. Indian Market is about the people of multiple generations who create and those who appreciate and collect their work. And the people watching is unsurpassed. It is a photographer's paradise.
Walking and styling
Decision time at the booth. I am beginning to think I am the only one who isn't sporting any ink!
Shoes are definitely part of the style, regardless if they are athletic shoes or wedges.
Street photography as shown above comes easily to me, but I find myself having to set my shyness aside in order to ask people if I can photograph them. For one thing, the artisans are busy at their booths and lots of people are around. I hate to interrupt someone trying to sell their work. So the next sequence of photographs were gained by introducing myself as a photographer and asking if they would allow me to photograph them.
Indigenous Designer Shaydee Snow Pretends Eagle was kind enough to be a photo subject.
Having never been very precise with makeup, I cannot even imagine the process and time involved in putting together her style.
Golga Oscar, artist and owner of Third Generation Art in Kasigluk, Alaska, had a winning smile I needed to photograph. The work at his booth included two stunning coats - one made of muskrat pelts, and the other of rabbit.
Marita Ahhaitty Growing Thunder owner of the Growing Thunder Collective and her exquisite bead work.
My thanks go to these great artists and activists for their work and for permitting me to photograph them and their work.
And many thanks to Barbara F. R., Victoria, Catherine, Kay, Jean & Sam, Steve, Ingrid, and Lawrence for commenting on last week's blog.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
Comments
As to the ink it's hard to find anybody under 40 in Taos without a tattoo. Marita Ahhaitty Growing Thunder seems to have missed the memo. She's elegant and at ease before your camera as is Colga Oscar with his 'winning' and bemused smile.
Nice to see the portrait work, Daryl.