It could be said that Phoenix creatives had a super-secret meetup in Santa Fe this past weekend. Except, most everything they did was publicized in advance. Were you paying attention? Yep, Phoenix movers and shakers took the Santa Fe Indian Market by storm. Here's a recap of some of what went down (complete with pictures) so you won't feel left out.
See also: Paul Frank Collaborates with Native American Designers for Fall 2013 Collection
Jake Meders and Steven Yazzie have work on display at the Museum of Contemporary Native Art, also home to the launch of the Paul Frank/Native Artists collection. MoCNA hosted a panel about the collection featuring soon-to-be Phoenician and Native Appropriations blogger Adrienne Keene.
Meders' exhibition "Divided Lines" emulates historic woodcuts on paper so long it barely fit inside his studio. It's a beautiful yet structured look at the misrepresentation of indigenous peoples in North America by artists of 15th and 16th century European society. By incorporating an aesthetic that emulates the historic woodcuts, Meders' panoramic installation is one not to miss. Yazzie's "The Mountain" is a video installation that centers on themes of urbanization and land set against the backdrop of Navajo sacred mountains. Both shows are on display through the end of the year.
Jeff Slim and Thomas "Breeze" Marcus had a show at Blue Rain Gallery. Breeze did a demonstration on Saturday, painting a mural in back of the gallery. Passers by and folks from all walks of people came to observe. Both artists are new for the gallery, but any Phoenician would recognize their graphically complicated work.
Breeze and fellow Arizonan Doug Miles joined artist Yatika Fields to create an amazing Exit Santa Fe mural in the El Dorado Hotel parking garage. And word is Breeze and Thomas Greyeyes also hit up Albuquerque for a small work on their way back to Phoenix.
Miles and Kathy Whitman-Elk Woman both showcased work the in the "My Land" exhibition at Wintertowd Fine Art on Canyon Road; while Damian Jim and Michelle Ponce of Ziindi were out and about showcasing their "Rez Deep" T-shirts.
At Indian Market proper, amazing work by legendary jewelers Victor Beck and Jesse Monongye caused quite a bit of gawking. And the energetic Olin Tsingine surprisingly didn't win any awards this year, but with his energy, we know this is an exception.
Local Jeremy Eyerock Arviso is a co-publisher of a new online app/magazine called Stripes. The magazine will likely be published quarterly and the launch party at the Agave Lounge was a lively event filled with all the pretty people.
Speaking of the pretty people, the style blog Presence 4.0 threw a mixer on Friday afternoon that many chic folks from around the country stopped by before moving on to evening events. Two of the three co-founders of that blog, Jaclyn Roessel and Nanibaa Beck, are Phoenicians, and their fellow blogger, Chelsea Chee, is a New Mexico resident. Notable shirts by local designer Jared Yazzie for OXDX were seen around town all weekend and at the mixer.
Overall Arizona and Phoenix in particular were represented well. Indian Market in Santa Fe and Indian Fair at the Heard Museum in Phoenix both tend to be a bit of a whirlwind, but Santa Fe in particular makes mingling and attending the events leading up to and during market very easy. You can walk nearly everywhere, and between gallery shows, panels, museum shows, parties, and of course the Market itself, there's tons to do and ways to connect with creatives.
