Discussing the day's events and plans for Market with relatives Eddie and Dawson at my Grandma's pink adobe house in Santa Fe...this was Market Day I remember...also I am wearing the same outfit and have my hair the same as in the sketch at Market at the bottom of this post....these were great times!
Booths and buyers at Market....wish that I was organized and could find more of my Market photos...I have so many taken over the years....have made a vow to get my 1,000's and 1000's of photos in order one of these days...~LOL~
Spotted Jerry Jacka, the late famous photographer for Arizona Highways and numerous southwestern publications at Market, in front of Dressman's on the plaza....
We took along our pottery "Bible"..."Seven Families in Pueblo Pottery" and had some of the artists we made purchases from (and even a few we didn't!) sign our book...As much fun as getting Mickey's signature at Disneyland!
Lucy M. Lewis, the one and only!
We purchased the Lucy Lewis black on white vase on the left at Market from Lucy...the two center pieces came from Lucy over the next few years....and the vase on the right was a 25th Wedding Anniversary gift to Wes and me from my sister Julie!
Lucy Lewis's signature was a great addition to our book...as was her pottery, to our collection!
Rose Gonzales, San Ildefonso Pueblo, Indian Market 1977....
We purchased the smaller carved blackware on the right from Rose at 8 a.m. on Saturday morning, the first day of Market...she was #1 on our list....we picked up the larger piece with Avanyu the following day...
Rose Gonzales who was well known as the originator of carved wares from San Ildefonso, was one of the sweetest, most gracious potters I have ever had the opportunity of meeting...so happy she signed our book!
We were excited to meet Marie Chino, and her daughter Rose Chino Garcia...the fine line seed bowl in the center, we purchased from Marie...the two "Deer with Heartline" wares, we purchased from Rose.....
Glad to have Marie Chino's autograph in our book...makes me sad, I had several actual photos of Marie, that I loaned out years ago to an acquaintance, and they were never returned to me....
Candelaria Gachupin of Zia Pueblo was definitely on our list of faves, and we were thrilled to meet her and purchase this wonderful, traditional Zia bowl......
Candelaria was sweet and signed our book for us...even though she was gathering up her wares quickly, as a high desert thunderstorm rolled in, just as we were making our purchase!
Anita Suazo from Santa Clara was a favorite potter of ours, and when we met her and saw this piece with the Snake Dancers on it, we had to have it! We had recently attended the Snake Dance at Second Mesa (another post in itself...non Hopi's are no longer allowed to attend the Snake Dance...our attending this dance rates right up there with one of the most important events in our lives!)
Back in the day, many local artists would set up shop on the side streets surrounding the plaza where Market was held, and sketch you, as you relaxed from a busy day of shopping....fun memories!
This upcoming weekend, August 21 and 22nd is the 89th Annual Santa Fe Indian Market! I love Market and wish that I were there! I have been thinking a lot about Market this past week, as I am getting email reminders from artists and friends about Market events and it has made me rather melancholy! Market is still a fabulous event to attend, but I do remember when it was a bit simpler, and you did not have to "camp out" days in advance in front of a particular artist's booth in order to get one of their pieces! It was a simpler time for sure....you actually had a chance to really talk with the artists and learn something about them, other than just what you read in books. It was not nearly as large as it is today, so it is good to know that there are many artists following in the footsteps of their famous ancestors who represented their family at earlier Markets. Market is by invitation only to the various artists, so you really do get the "cream of the crop"! The "cream of the crop" back at Market in the 70's when I first began attending as an adult (my family is from Santa Fe, NM and I had been many times as a child, but did not have the knowledge nor appreciation for it, as I did in the 70's) were names such as the Chino and Lewis families from Acoma...Rose Gonzales from San Ildefonso....the Nampeyo Family from Polacca...."Frog Woman", Joy Navasie...Ellen Quandelacy from Zuni...in fact Ellen was the only Zuni carver of fetishes represented at Market back in the 70's! The great Fetish Revival at Zuni did not take place until later in the 80's. Wes and I had a mission back then...we were pottery enthusiasts and set out to purchase wares from some of our "favorite" potters, and we did! We had such a great time meeting so many artists, and establishing a buying relationship with many of them, that has lasted for years with those that are still with us...after all, this was almost 35 years ago, and many were older artists at that time! I treasure the art we purchased, the friendships we established, and the memories that we made! If you are lucky enough to be attending Market this year, ENJOY....it is an experience you will always cherish!
