A PASSAGE TO INDIA

india new year

2011-12-27T17:45:00.000-08:00

india new year

india actress

2011-12-27T17:41:00.000-08:00

india actress

A Holiday Wish

2011-12-23T18:00:00.000-08:00

All of us at Aboriginals; Art of the First Person, and our websites: TribalWorks, Native-American-Jewelry, Native-PotteryLink and ZuniLink wish you a splendid Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year. May 2012 be even better than we wish for.

Another ATADA Theft Alert

2011-12-23T17:47:00.000-08:00

Antique Tribal Art Dealers Association has announced another threat alert.

This time it is for three items of Navajo jewelry stolen from a Santa Fe Gallery. View this alert at http://www.ATADA.com/theft.html#swift11.

If you encounter any of these items from resellers or at auctions, please report it ot the authorities. Possessing stolen property is a federal crime without a statute of limitation.

This message is brought to you by Native-American-Jewelry.org , a member of ATADA.

Will it get there in time?

2011-12-12T09:09:00.000-08:00

That's a question we get a lot of at this time of year.

Folks buying gifts on line want some assurance that their purchase will arrive before Christmas.

Here are some guidelines.

USPS Priority gets delivered in 2 to 3 days. If you are shipping from one coast to the other, count on three days. USPS has announced that the last day for shipping to arrive pre-Christmas is December 21. If you want to track your shipment, there is a very small surcharge for a tracking number. Insurance also can be purchased, depending n the value of the package. You still might want to purchase a tracking number, because it one is not included with insurance.

UPS promises deliver in 5 to 7 days. UPS is more expensive but often a better service large or heavy packages.

And, of course, there always is FedEx. FedEx will deliver overnight. But you will pay for it.

Less than a week to save 25% on Native American jewelry

2011-11-20T11:18:00.000-08:00

Just as certain as Thanksgiving is this Thursday, this Saturday is November 26. That's the last day for the gigantic 25% off sale on all Native American Jewelry at http://www.Native-American-Jewelery.org

Everything in our completely authentic, top quality inventory is on sale at 25% off. The prices before the sale were 25% higher and they will be again when the sale ends.

Order now, save, and we can ship so you will receive your purchase in 3 to 5 days. Plenty of time for Christmas.

PS: If for some reason, your order form doesn't submit (computers do have glitches) call us at 1-800-305-0185 and we will take your order on the phone.

PS: Please follow us on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/NativeAmericanJewelry
Click on "like" to show you like to hear from us and you'll receive regular postings about news and new offers. Thank you.

Christmas Sale on Native American Jewelry

2011-11-12T07:53:00.000-08:00

As the Christmas holiday approaches at what appears to be break-neck speed, Native American Jewelry .org is announcing a major sale. Now through November 26, please take 25% off every item of Native American Jewelry you purchase from the web site.

Shopping is easy. Simply scroll through the dozens of pages, find the items you like and click on the "Order" button. Complete the order form and enter the code word, "Artery". The 25% discount will be taken when your order is processed.

You also can telephone us toll-free at 800-305-0185 to place your order. Many people prefer this way of ordering. That's fine with us. (We like to hear your voice.) It's also a good idea because, as the sale proceeds, items may be sold before you get to them. A phone call gives us a chance to check our inventory before you order.

We answer the phone between 9 am and 6 pm Eastern Time. Otherwise, leave a message in the voice mail and we will call you back within 24 hours - sooner if possible.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

2011-11-03T10:20:00.000-07:00

If you are in Santa Fe during November 26 & 27, mark your calendar for this SWAIA Event. If not, check out the Native American art websites at Native-American-Jewelry.org, Native-PotteryLink.com and ZuniLink.com

2011 Santa Fe
Winter Indian Market

Joy Harjo

Beautiful Artwork and Jewlery for Sale
Artist Demonstrators
Silent Auction
Two Performanaces by Joy Harjo
Raffle Prizes
Fashion Row
Native 101 Lecture

Early Bird Shopping and Native Art 101 Lecture
SWAIA Members Only
Saturday, November 26. 9:00 a.m.
Admission is $5 with a SWAIA Membership
For information on becoming a SWAIA Member, call Denise Keron
(505) 983-5220

Winter Indian Market Hours
Saturday, November 26, 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (General Admission)
Sunday, November 27, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (General Admission)

General Admission is $5 Per Day
Tickets Available at the Door

Tickets and Performance Times for Joy Harjo
$20
Includes Admission into Winter Indian Market
Saturday, November 26, 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 27, 1:00 p.m.
Advance Tickets Available (505) 983-5220

All events will take place at the Santa Fe Convention Center
(201 W. Marcy St. Santa Fe, NM 87501)

Artist Demonstrators

Award Winning Metalsmith
Kenneth Johnson (Muscogee/Seminole) Jeweler

2011 SWAIA Best of Show Winner
Jeremy Frey (Passamaquoddy) Basket Weaver

2011 Best of Classification Winner, Pottery
Jody Naranjo (Santa Clara Pueblo) Potter

2011 SWAIA Residency Fellowship Winner
Ryan Lee Smith (Cherokee/Choctaw) Painter

2011 SWAIA Residency Fellowship Winner
Lisa Hageman Yahgulanaas (Haida) Weaver

One week closer to Christmas

2011-10-28T06:30:00.000-07:00

At the risk of being repetitive, we will probably be issuing weekly reminders of the upcoming holiday and the wisdom of thinking about your gift purchases now.

If you have a friend or loved one who is fond of Native American things, our website featuring authentic Navajo jewelry is a great place to browse for a gift that will surprise and delight him or her.

Or consider the wide range of Zuni and other pueblo fetish carvings at our ZuniLink site. There are hundreds to select from. A gift of Zuni fetish culture carries with it a wish for good health and good fortune.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday

Institute of American Indian Arts Practices the Art of Sustainability

2011-10-28T06:23:00.000-07:00

(SANTA FE, NM) - The Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) is showing its true color - green. The Institute recently certified two Gold and one Silver LEEDTM (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) buildings on its growing campus.

The achievement of the multiple LEED certifications is no small feat, but it aligns well with IAIA's objective to offer high quality educational programs on a sustainable campus. "It's a high performance building for a higher education campus," Myra Villalobos, LEED Accredited Professional at Dyron Murphy Architects, P.C. said.

It takes a lot of coordination and careful consideration to have a building LEED certified. Since the buildings are constantly in use, each building features smart design strategies to maximize energy efficiency and provide a comfortable working space for students and staff. "An educational facility creates a healthy environment for large groups of people," Dyron Murphy, the architect of the new buildings, said.

LEED is a standardized, point based rating system that determines how sustainable a building is. This system helps to determine building performance and is used as a guide for architects, engineers, and owners to meet sustainability goals. The architecture firm that designed the buildings, Dyron Murphy Architects, P.C., is a native-owned firm dedicated to sustainable design. They work closely with Native American entities throughout the United States to incorporate both LEED principles and native culture into their designs.

Since its establishment in 1962 as an institute for innovative artists and educators, IAIA has offered forward thinking approaches to Native American arts education. In 2000, the institute established its permanent location in Santa Fe, and has since constructed several new buildings. Recent LEED certified buildings include, the Center for Lifelong Education, Science and Technology, and Sculpture and Foundry building. This constitutes 60,000 square feet of new LEED certified art space. The most notable building is the Science and Technology building, featuring a state-of-the-art digital dome theater, new media labs, and conservation/science labs, along with the world-class Museum of Contemporary Native Arts' permanent collection.

Serving as a national center of excellence in contemporary Native arts, IAIA is committed to sustainable growth. In celebration of its recent LEED certification, the campus invites students, staff, and community members to its Open House event on November 4th, 2011 from 4:30 to 6:30pm on the IAIA Campus. The Open House is free and open to the public. There will be refreshments, art displays, guided tours, and demonstrations from students and staff. The campus is located at 83 Avan Nu Po Road in Santa Fe, NM.

This information has been forwarded by Aboriginals Gallery, owners of websites for Native American Pueblo Pottery, Native American jewelry and Zuni fetish carvings. Proud to support the IAIA

In case you hadn't noticed...

2011-10-20T11:15:00.000-07:00

We are seeing all kinds of signs that Christmas is coming. (I know. It comes every year.) That tells us it's time to step forward with news about Christmas and Native American art traditions. At Native-PotteryLink.com, we have posted new Pueblo pottery Nativity sets and Native American Santa Claus story tellers.

Now is the best time to acquire one for your home, so you will have time to put it out as part of your Christmas decor and let your family and friends enjoy it before Christmas arrives. If you see something you like, let us know by phone (800-305-0185) or send an inquiry via the form on our website. We look forward to hearing from you.

PS: Don't be reluctant to use the toll-free number. We love to hear your voice.

New Work by Salvador Romero, Cochiti

2011-09-29T05:50:00.000-07:00

ZuniLink has added several new carvings by Cochiti carver Salvador Romero.

If you are a fan of Sal's fetish carvings or just curious about what a talented artist can do with rocks and stones he finds on the ground around his Cochiti Pueblo home, visit the web site by clicking the photo below.

Here's a sample.
PS: If you would like to meet Sal personally, via an internet video, here you go

A PASSAGE TO INDIA

2011-09-26T06:10:00.001-07:00

A PASSAGE TO INDIA

SWAIA salutes Best of Show winner, Jeremy Frey

2011-08-29T09:45:00.000-07:00

The 2011 Santa Fe Indian Market Best of Show Winner, Passmaquoddy basket weaver Jeremy Frey, has had an extraordinary year. The 32-year-old Maine resident also won the Best of Show prize at the Heard Museum Indian Fair and Market earlier this year, and it should be noted that he was recently awarded a $50,000 artist grant from the Los Angeles Based organization United States Artists.

The eighth-generation basket weaver may be familiar to Indian Market visitors. Frey was part of the Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance demonstrator’s booth at the 2009 Indian Market. The Alliance is an advocacy and educational organization that Frey has been involved with for years. In fact, Frey learned how to weave baskets from his mother Gal Frey at the age of 22, who was reintroduced to basket weaving at the Alliance. From drawing pictures as a child to his grade school declaration of wanting to be an artist when he grew up, Frey’s gift and skill as a basket weaver have reached a level unparalleled success.

“I’ve been doing it since day one. It seemed that it was what I should have been doing my whole life,” Frey says, “I thought to myself that if was going to be part of a group of basket weavers, then I wanted to do something to set my self apart…not distort the tradition, but refining what was already there.” Indeed, in a time when formal art training abounds, Frey finds inspiration for his sweet grass and black ash baskets from an internal place.

“What I find beautiful comes from within,” he says. Still, Frey is influenced from many sources. His extensive travels and his experiences weaving side-by-side with other basket weavers influence his own designs. Self-described as “traditional/contemporary” he uses locally harvested materials for his baskets, but designed and ultimately used in a different ways.

“There are times when I know what the shape and color are going to be and then I let it go from there…other times I have an exact image in my head of what I want to do.”

Weaving baskets may be, by some measures, a relatively accessible art form and art practice. By comparison, the tools and raw materials can literally grow from the ground until they are harvested and reshaped into something delicate and beautiful. Nevertheless, Jeremy Frey’s Best of Show Award from the Santa Fe Indian Market spotlights basket weaving's vast complexity and difficulty.

The correlation between the basket weaving and the cultural sustainability of his tribe and home cannot be adequately expressed. For a young man in the 21st century to be following a centuries-old practice, his achievement speaks incalculable volumes for all Native people expressing themselves through ancient art forms. "

Thanks to SWAIA for sharing this information

Mary Small, Jemez Pueblo Potter, shares a video moment.

2011-08-26T07:11:00.000-07:00

We are very fond of all our artists, carvers, jewelry makers, folk artists and pottery makers.

Mary Small occupies a special place in that group of people we are privileged to call friends.

When we caught up with her at Indian Market this year, she agreed to let us record her on video, so you all could get to know her a little better.

We offer that video now.

We will be posting newly acquired Mary Small pueblo pottery to our web site after Labor Day. In the meantime, there are other pots by Mary Small and other pueblo potters to be seen there.

Enjoy.

PS: If you frequent FaceBook, we would appreciate a "like" on our Native American Pueblo Pottery fanpage. Thank you.

Todd Westika talks about his special chess set

2011-08-22T12:12:00.000-07:00

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.

SWAIA announces winners in 2011 Indian Market artist competition

2011-08-21T16:07:00.000-07:00

Friday night, August 19, Southwest Association for Indian Arts, stagers of the annual Santa Fe Indian Market announced the winners in the annual artist and art competition.

Best of Show - Jeremy Frey for a PASSAMAQUODDY basket.

It also won best of classification in baskets, and had previously won in the Heard Museum Show.

Best of Classification / Moving Images - Bennie Klain, NavajoBest of Classification / Pottery - Jody Naranjo, Santa Clara

Best of Classification / Jewelry - Chris Pruitt, LAGUNA

Best of Classification / Diverse Arts - Jamie Okuma, SHOSHONE/LUISENO

Best of Classification / Pueblo Wooden Carvings - Arthur Holmes, HOPI

Best of Classification / Youth - Valerie Calabaza, SANTO DOMINGO (KEWA)

Best of Classification / Beadwork & Quillwork - Joyce Growing Thunder, SIOUX/ASSINIBOINEBest of Classification / Sculpture - Marcus Wall, JEMEZ

Best of Classification / Textiles - Linda Teller-Pete, Navajo

Innovation Award - Pat Pruitt, LAGUNA

Many other first, second and honorable mention ribbons were awarded. Too many to detail here.

On the Eve of Indian Market

2011-08-18T10:12:00.000-07:00

We are in Santa Fe for the annual Indian Market weekend and will be reporting on our

experiences, including winners of the artist competition.

Tonight is the annual Wheelwright Museum silent auction. Always lots of fun and occasionally we actually win pieces at good prices. We'll let you know.

If you sign up for the RSS feed of TribalArtery, you will be notified the each time we post updates.

Just click on the RSS icon and select reader - Google Reader is a good choice.

Silver prices on the rise again

2011-08-05T13:39:00.000-07:00

Native American Jewelry fans and buyers know that silver is a key metal used in their favorite objects of beauty. As prices of silver rise, prices of silver jewelry are likely to follow, as night follows day. We have commented on the situation in this article. The good news is that we are holding firm on our prices, many of which were set when silver prices were one-fourth of what they are today.

2011-07-29T14:18:00.000-07:00

The Museum of Contemporary Native Arts Presents

Opulence

A fashion show and sale featuring Orlando Dugi, Connie Tsosie Gaussoin, David Gaussoin, and

Wayne Nez Gaussoin

(SANTA FE, NM) Santa Fe, NM - The Museum of Contemporary Native Arts (MoCNA) will present Opulence, taking place at the Museum Store and Lloyd Kiva New Gallery, 108 Cathedral Place, Santa Fe, NM. The show exhibition runs from August 5th through August 31st, 2011 with an opening reception on August 18th, 2011 from 4:00-7:00pm.

The exhibition will feature new work by Orlando Dugi, Connie Tsosie Gaussoin, David Gaussoin, and Wayne Nez Gaussoin.

Orlando Dugi referred to Opulence as "Going beyond monetary wealth projecting rich creativity, posh artistry, superior elegance, affluent innovation and above all creating a luxurious image."

MoCNA Gallery Hours:

Monday- Saturday 10:00AM- 5:00PM

Closed on Tuesdays

Brought to you Native American Indian Jewelry,

a website of Aboriginals: Art of the First Person.

2011 Santa Fe Indian Market Official Schedule

2011-06-29T09:40:00.000-07:00

The Southwestern Association for Indian Arts has issued the official events schedule for the 2011 Santa Fe Indian Market in August. We will attend and report on most of these events on this blog and on websites at ZuniLink, Native-American-Jewelry, TribalWorks and Native-PotteryLink

2011 Santa Fe Indian Market Week
Official Schedule of Events
August 15-August 21

Class X Film Screenings
Monday, August 15, 2011, 6:30 p.m.
New Mexico History Museum
113 Lincoln Avenue
Santa Fe, NM 87501
Free Admission

This special evening of film screenings features the work of Classification X winners. This is the tenth and one of the newest art classifications at Santa Fe Indian Market. Classification X is the moving images category. It is divided into four divisions: Narrative Short, Documentary Short, Animation Short and Experimental Short. The Santa Fe Indian Market Awards Program invites art experts and collectors to Santa Fe to judge more than 1,000 artist entries and distribute over $70,000 in prize money in numerous categories to SWAIA Santa Fe Indian Market artists. Awards are given to recognize an artist's dedication and skill in working with traditional materials and techniques, as well as experimentation with new media and innovative art forms.

Native Cinema Showcase
Monday, August 15 to Sunday August 21, 2011
Film Schedule: TBA
New Mexico History Museum
113 Lincoln Avenue
Santa Fe, NM 87501
Free Admission

The Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA), the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI), present the 11th Annual Native Cinema Showcase, a celebration of films and videos by and about indigenous peoples in connection with the Santa Fe Indian Market. All films will be shown at the New Mexico History Museum.

SWAIA and the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture Present: Breakfast With the Curators
Tuesday, August 16, 2011, 8:30 a.m.
Museum of Indian Arts and Culture
710 Camino Lejo
Santa Fe, NM 87501
$25 per person, or $20 per person for MNMF members
Museum Admission Included

Learn all about the history, splendor and future plans of the 90th Annual Santa Fe Indian Market over breakfast with SWAIA's Executive Director, Bruce Bernstein, PhD.

Janet Marie Rogers and Alex Jacobs
Tuesday, August 16, 2011, 6:00 p.m.
Collected Works Bookstore & Coffee House
202 Galisteo St. #A, Santa Fe, 87501
Free Admission

Mohawk spoken word performance about living away from their homelands while maintaining Indian identity. Jacob’s says, “I am creating spiritual and emotional landscapes that speak and connect through the Soft Therapy of my Fabric Collage, and to tell large political and historical narratives with paper cut outs, and to connect directly with people through spoken word performances.”

Robert Mirabal Presents: Po’Pay Speaks
Tuesday, August 16 to September 4, 2011
The Lodge at Santa Fe
750 N. St. Francis Dr.
$45 Per ticket

Robert Mirabal, a two-time Grammy Award winner, will be performing Po’Pay Speaks from August 16th thru September 4th at The Lodge at Santa Fe. This new one-man show will showcase the history of Po’Pay during the 1680 Pueblo Revolt, and his continuing influence today. Mirabal, a native of Taos Pueblo, has released nearly a dozen CDs, ranging from traditional ceremonial music to Rock n’ Roll. His highly praised PBS special, Music from a Painted Cave, was aired in 2002. The multi- talented Mirabal is also an artist and published author. His novel, Running Alone with Photographs, was published in 2009, and, Skeletons of a Bridge, a book of poetry, was published in 1994. When not touring, he lives a traditional life at Taos Pueblo with his wife, Dawn, and three daughters. Po’Pay Speaks is being developed with the aid of a grant from the New Mexico Multi-Cultural Foundation. Tickets are $55.00 for floor seating and $45.00 for mezzanine, and can be purchased at www.TicketsSantaFe.org. Collaborating with Mirabal on the production are Taos writers Stephen Parks and Nelson Zink. For more information, please contact Danette Lovato at 505.242.8355 or visit www.Mirabal.com.

Welcoming Reception at Patina Gallery
Thursday, August 18, 2011, 9: 00 a.m.
Patina Gallery
131 West Palace Avenue, Santa Fe, 87501
Free Admission

Join us for a continental breakfast and a welcoming orientation to Santa Fe at the internationally renowned Patina Gallery on Palace Avenue--an ardent business supporter of SWAIA and Indian Market. Tom Maguire, former Director of Arts and Cultural Tourism for the City of Santa Fe, will give a brief talk on the rich history, culture and creative energy of our vibrant community. Based on the Navajo Beauty Way, this audio-visual presentation conjures up the wealth of inspiring experiences you can discover during your visit here.

Simon Ortiz and Sara Maria Ortiz
Thursday, August 18, 2011, 6:00 p.m.
Collected Works Bookstore & Coffee House
202 Galisteo St. #A, Santa Fe, 87501
Free Admission

Readings by a father and daughter. Sara will be reading from her manuscript Red Milk: A Requiem in Three Act, and “…we’ll be engaging in an open dialogue about ‘the business of writing,’ our creative processes, inspirations, experiences, our challenges as contemporary Indigenous writers, etc.”

SWAIA Presents Music on the Plaza Bandstand
Thursday, August 18, 2011, 6:00 p.m.
Downtown Santa Fe

The final day of the inimitable Santa Fe Music Bandstand Series sponsored by SWAIA featuring Clan/Destine (Native Soul Operation Peace) and Levi & the Plateros (Native high powered Rock and Blues)

Best of Show Ceremony and Luncheon
Friday, August 19, 2011, 11:30am-2:00pm
Santa Fe Convention Center
201 W. Marcy St., Santa Fe, 87501
For Ticket Information, Please Contact SWAIA (505) 983-5220

This annual event, which precedes the Santa Fe Indian Market, is where the Best of Show Award is presented to a SWAIA artist; it is the Native art world’s most prestigious prize. Over 1000 pieces of artwork are submitted for judging in 10 art classifications. At no other time during Indian Market Week are the most exquisite works of art gathered in one location. This intimate gathering is a ticketed event and reserved for SWAIA Members only. Ticket information TBA. For more information on becoming a SWAIA Member, click here. For ticket information visit swaia.org or call 983-5220.

Sneak and General Previews
Friday, August 19, 2011
Sneak Preview, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
General Preview: 7:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Santa Fe Convention Center
201 W. Marcy St., Santa Fe, 87501

SWAIA's Artist Awards Sneak Preview gives SWAIA members the early opportunity to see the best of Indian Market art after the Best of Show Awards Ceremony. The General Preview that follows opens the doors to the public for a glimpse at the award-winning artwork.

The 90th Santa Fe Indian Market
Saturday, August 20 and Sunday, August 21, 2011, 7:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m.
The Plaza, Santa Fe
Free Admission

The Santa Fe Indian Market is the preeminent Native arts market in the world; it simultaneously embraces the past, present and future of Indian Arts. There is simply no other time and place in the Native arts world where the impact and influence of Native culture and identity is reinforced, reestablished and reinvented. The Indian Market features visual arts, literature, film, music, culinary arts, symposiums and much more. The Santa Fe Indian Market hosts over 1100 artists from 100 tribes and is the largest cultural event in New Mexico, attracting 100,000 visitors per year.

SWAIA Live Auction Gala, Dinner and Auctions
Saturday, August 20, 2011, 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
La Fonda on the Plaza
Santa Fe, NM
For Ticket Information, Please Contact SWAIA (505) 983-5220

As SWAIA's largest fundraiser of the year, the Live Auction Gala is the most glamorous and exciting event during Indian Market Week. Each year, some of the country's most exceptional Native artists donate a piece of artwork to be auction in the silent or live auction. The auction items represent an eclectic array of Native art. Many of the one-of-a kind art pieces have been specifically made for the auctions. Tickets sell out well in advance of this event. For ticket information visit swaia.org or call 983-5220.

Lifetime Achievement Allan Houser Legacy and Povika Awards Presentation
Saturday, August 20, 2011, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
The Santa Fe Plaza Stage
Downtown Santa Fe

The Houser Award is the highest honor that SWAIA bestows upon a Native artist. The annual award recognizes the contributions by a distinguished Native American artist to Native arts and Native culture. The Povika Award recognizes service, leadership and support that Native and non-Native people (the broad range of individuals who make up the Indian Market family) provide to the annual Santa Fe Indian Market and to Native artists and their communities.

Native American Clothing Contest
Sunday, August 21, 2011, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
The Santa Fe Plaza Stage
Downtown Santa Fe

Among the many cherished traditions at the Santa Fe Indian Market, the Native American Clothing Contest (NACC) is one of the most beloved and anticipated events. For over twenty years, the NACC has been the most photographed event at the Santa Fe Indian Market. The contest includes categories for traditional and contemporary Native American fashions, features children and adult participants, and awards prizes in over 20 categories.

Open Studio Santa Fe Art Institute
Thursday, August 25, 2011, 5:30 p.m.
Santa Fe Art Institute
1600 Saint Michaels Dr., Santa Fe, 87505
Free Admission

Every month, the Santa Fe Art Institute hosts an Open Studio for the Artists & Writers in Residence to show their work to the public and to give folks a sneak peek into the closed door world of studio practice. The artists in residence for August will be:

Ryan Lee Smith, Park Hill, OK, SWAIA Residency Fellow - painter
Lisa Hageman Yahgulanaas, Masset, BC Canada, SWAIA Residency Fellow – weaver
Lenka Novakova, Quebec, Canada – video and installation
Pricilla Hollingsworth – Augusta, GA – ceramicist
Alyssa Phoebus and Murad Kahn Mumatz, Pakistan – mixed media
Marylin Waltzer, Haverford, PA – botanical illustrator
Judith Stein, Philadelphia, PA - writer

Another happy customer

2011-06-27T10:21:00.000-07:00

An interesting aspect of doing business on line is that customers have to take us at our word that we are are presenting Zuni fetish carvings accurately, and that, when their Tribal Art purchase arrives it will satisfy them. In a retail store or gallery, the customer can pick it up and hold it before deciding to buy. He or she can't do that on line.

It helps when the seller can guarantee satisfaction. We do. After all, even if the item is described and pictured 100% perfectly, when the buyer holds in his or her hands, if may not live up to expectations. So we guarantee that the item will satisfy or we will refund the buyer's purchase price.

That makes it all the more gratifying when we receive a note like this one.

"Hi Susanne,

The carving arrived today in perfect condition!

It does look exactly like the photo on your web side, however holding it and seeing it in reality and knowing - this is mine now - is quite a wonderful experience.
This carving is such an outstanding masterpiece and I was very touched when I was holding it in my hands.

Thanks a lot for your prompt delivery and I can surely recommend your address to others, who are sharing the same passion for this kind of art!"

Thanks for sharing our gratitude.

William & Susanne Waites
ZuniLink.com
Native-American-jewelry.og
TribalWorks.Com
Native-PotteryLink.com

2011-06-26T08:49:00.000-07:00

Our Native American pottery website, offers pottery made by artists in a wide range of Native American pueblos and tribes.

It also includes a selection beautifully made pots from the famed Village of Mata Ortiz in northern Mexico. I would like to present one of the most stunning examples, a large olla (11" tall) by Lionel Lopez Saenz. The artwork adorning it is simply spectacular.

If you enjoy this, you may be similarly charmed by other pottery presented on the website.

A Primer on Old Zuni Pueblo Art

2011-06-22T08:22:00.000-07:00

We have recently come across a video that was recorded by Deb Slaney, currently Curator at the Albuquerque Museum, when she was with the Heard Museum, Phoenix.

It is a fascinating discussion of the background of the C.G. Wallace Collection and the artists and work represented in it.

This link will take you to it on YouTube. http://youtu.be/0J1Kwij6PJs

As collectors, dealers and students of Native American jewelry, and Zuni art particularly, we are always interested in learning more about the history of Zuni jewelry and carvings, and the techniques of the artists who created it a generation ago.

Another Small World Story concerning Native American Art

2011-06-20T11:18:00.000-07:00

A few days ago, we decided to post a couple of items from our inventory to eBay.

One of them was a Choctaw river cane basket by Rosie Joe. The buyer turned out to be someone who had previously owned the basket. He recognized it when he saw it listed in our eBay store. Upon completion of the transaction, he notified us of his prior involvement with the basket. Here are some excerpts from what he wrote us.

"Thanks, I'll tell you a little more about it. I sold items regularly to OIAG and this was one of the items I should have kept, but accidently (sic) got included in a group package that I had put together for them. I could not get it back because they told me it was not available for sale.

I had met Rosie Joe some years before that and had purchased many of her baskets from her. I had helped her collect river cane in Eastern Oklahoma and watched her prepare the cane and start weaving baskets. One day as I had gone to pick her up in Shawnee Oklahoma to take her to Eastern Oklahoma to gather river cane, she came out carrying this basket and gifted it to me for my help to her.

I was upset when it got away from me, and am glad it is returning home.

Rosie Joe also went by the name Rosie Lewis, never signed her baskets that I am aware of, and came from Eastern Choctaw family where her mother and grandmother taught her to weave baskets.

Thanks again for the opportunity given to me, to regain this lost basket back into my now very small collection."

This one of the things we love about trading in tribal art, whether it's Navajo folk art, Zuni carvings, pueblo pottery, African tribal masks and figurative carvings, Australian Aboriginal art and artefacts or Arctic/Inuit carvings, there is a friendly circle of shared interests and values.

We are glad to include you, dear reader, en the circle.

Count on Delbert Buck for Navajo folk art with a smile.

2011-06-09T04:14:00.000-07:00

Among the names that stand out in the circle of talented Navajo Folk Artists, Delbert Buck may be the most “creative”.

Born in Shiprock, NM in September 1976, Delbert began carving at a very early age. Some say his first carvings were when he was around nine-years-old and he carved toy guns to play with. Others say he began to hit his carving stride in his early teens, when his fascination with horses and airplanes inserted those subjects into his portfolio of carvings.

In any case, this son of Wilford and Jenny Buck quickly expanded his carving activities, with his first “shows” at 13. His work soon was included in the authoritative books about Navajo folk art, “The People Speak – Contemporary Navajo Folk Art” and “The Trading Post Guidebook.”

The single characteristic that consistently emerges from Buck's creations is his sense of humor.

He has been quoted as saying his favorite part of what he does, and what he hopes others will get out of it, is a “smile”. His eclectic sculptures, combining horses, broncs, motorcycles, airplanes and a wide range of other colorful characters from Navajo culture, and his own unconventional imagination, are very popular and highly collectable.

He works in a shack at his home, using simple tools such as a hand saw, utility knife and hammer. He carves from pieces of cottonwood that are found on in nearby washes. Delbert does the carving and the painting, with assistance from his mother and sisters when it comes to dressing up the carvings.

As buyers, collectors and resellers of Delbert's work, we often are drawn to his pieces simply because of their delightful perspective on subjects that are otherwise cliched, but not in the hands of Delbert Buck.

They also often have a patriotic quality, which appeals to us, and makes them wonderful works to display around national holidays such as the 4^th of July. The flag-toting, red, white and blue, biker grandma to the left, is and example.

Special Note: TribalWorks.com is taking temporary mark-downs on Delbert Buck's pieces in stock. You are encouraged to take advantage of these savings now.

Santa Fe Getting Ready for August

2011-06-06T08:46:00.000-07:00

Among the events that happen in Santa Fe in August, triggered by Indian Market, are the WhiteHawk shows.

We've now received notice that the 28th Annual Antique Ethnographic Art Show will take place on Thursday, August 11, Friday, August 12 and Saturday, August 13.

The hours are 6-9PM on Thursday, 10-6PM on Friday and 10-5PM on Saturday.

This usually is an extraordinary show, featuring antiquities offered by the most reputable dealers in the country.

The venue is the Santa Fe Community Convention Center.

Admission for the Thursday preview, which includes beer and wine, and eats by Cowgirl Catering, is $75 per person. That also includes admission to the Friday and Saturday openings. These are otherwise priced at $10 each. Bring cash or a checkbook. No credit cards accepted.

The 33rd Annual Antique Indian Art Show follows, with a $75 preview on Sunday, August 14 from 6-9PM, and open shows from 10-5PM on Monday, August 15 and Tuesday, August 16. The venue is the same and the $75 deal is the same.

An additional value is offered by the Antique Tribal Art Dealers Association (ATADA), who will be offering workshops concerning the laws of collecting antique Native American artifacts. These will be open to the public at no charge. For more information about ATADA, visit their website at http://www.ATADA.org. WhiteHawk's web site is at http://www.WhiteHawkShows.com.

Aboriginals: Art of the First Person and its websites devoted to African, Australian, Arctic and Native American art; Native American Indian Jewelry; Native American Pueblo Pottery and fetish carvings from Zuni, Cochiti, San Felipe and other Native American sources is a member of ATADA.

Controversy continues to boil in artifacts case.

2011-06-04T10:12:00.000-07:00

The Indian Trader issue of this month reports a story about Indian trader Bill Malone, who was abused and deprived of property under false pretenses by the National Park Service. According to a book about Malone by Paul D. Berkowitz, "The Case of the Indian Trader", After his investigation into the case, Berkowitz was able to get the case against Malone dropped and the government was forced to return his property - after several years and significant damage to Malone's reputation.

Such over zealousness now shows up in cases the Federal Government brings against dealers and collectors of Native American artifacts. This subject is covered in ongoing commentary by the Antique Tribal Art Dealers Association. Despite the law exempting material that was collected before 1979 and material collected from private land, the Feds routinely raid and seize privately held and museum collections, based on flimsy allegations.

The recent case in Utah was based on the testimony of a disgruntled trader, who allegedly was paid by the government to entrap fellow traders. Based on that "evidence", collectors premises were raided with entire collections confiscated for supposed lack of provenance. The case is till working its way through appeals and trials, without incidentally any further testimony from the government informant, who committed suicide.

What contributes to this attitude about lawful trading in Native artifacts, including those contributed to museums and made available for research and viewing by the public? There may be an answer in a recent talk given to collectors in Santa Fe, when a federal agent said he wished the legal trade would dry up. Theoretically, it would make his job easier, which is an interesting standard on which to base policy decisions that affect lawful activities.

We have seen, however, what happens when lawful activities are prohibited. In the case of alcoholic beverages, a perceived problem was not solved, but was worsened by the fostering of crime gangs that still operate in other areas.

Good intentions don't matter when bad ends result.

ATADA Alerts of Native American Art Theft

2011-06-02T11:29:00.000-07:00

Recently, the Antique Tribal Art Dealers Association, of which Aboriginals: Art of the First Person is a member, published an alert about two Navajo weavings stolen from a Santa Fe, NM gallery.

Alerts like this are intended to call attention to items that may subsequently show up in the resale or collector market. This time, as in the past, it worked. With one of the weavings being recovered already.

Please look at the linked-to page to see a photo of the weaving that still is at large. If you run across it, please report your information to ATADA or the gallery. It is against the law to possess stolen merchandise.

Aboriginals offers Native American art at ZuniLink (Zuni and other Native carvings), Native-American-jewelry (Native American silver and turquoise jewelry), Native-PotteryLink (Pueblo Pottery) and TribalWorks (Navajo folk art).

In Memoriam

2011-05-29T03:03:00.000-07:00

As we approach Memorial Day in the United States, we at Aboriginals and its associated web sites at ZuniLink.com, Native-American-Jewelry.org, Native-PotteryLink.com and TribalWorks.com, want to pause to recognize and thank those who sacrificed life, limb and family for our American freedoms. We encourage you to do the same.

Pause your holiday fun long enough to contemplate the loss of these heroes and the benefits we gained from their heroism.

Then celebrate the freedoms they protected and preserved for us. God bless freedom loving people everywhere.

Susanne & William Waites

SWAIA ANNOUNCES 2011 POSTER ARTISTS

2011-05-18T07:23:00.000-07:00

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
~~~~~~~~~

(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.

Tribal Art Adventures in Elementary School

2011-05-06T07:32:00.000-07:00

This week, Susanne and I gave a presentation to the third and fourth grade art classes at J. Colin English Elementary School in North Fort Myers.

We presented Australian Aboriginal art to the third graders and African Tribal art to the fourth graders.

What well-behaved, attentive and interested audiences they were!

Our Australian program covered dot paintings from the Central Desert, bark paintings from the top end, carved, poker-burned animals, pottery painted by Aboriginal women, didgeridoos and boomerangs. We even showed them a dot-painted emu egg.

For the fourth graders, we concentrated on masks from West and Central Africa. Among those presented were masks from Bule, Guru, Senoufo, Dogon, Marka and Tchokwe. We let the students touch the masks and inspect the insides as well as the outer surfaces.

The exhibits were well-received and treated respectfully.

An interesting aspect of the presentation was a discussion of "spirit". How do you explain the concept of "spirit" to a fourth-grader? Especially when references to God or religion seemed inappropriate in a classroom setting.

The instructor came up with what I thought was a brilliant explanation. So much so that I told her I shall use it myself in the future. She likened it to the feeling that happens when you think you are alone, but you realize you are not alone. You are surrounded by people who share your ideas and values. That is the manifestation of the spirit that resides in the mask when it is danced.

That explanation resonated with me. I think the kids "got it."

We enjoyed doing these presentations. Susanne has taken them to schools before and, when we had our physical gallery on Sanibel, we invited classes to come for private presentations.

Now, we must take our collection and interest to the students, reinforced by information we present on our websites; TribalWorks.com for African and Australian art, Native-American-jewelry.org for jewelry art from native artisans, Native-PotteryLink.com for pueblo pottery and ZuniLink.com for carvings from Zuni, Cochiti and other Native American carvers.

Opal in Native American Jewelry

2011-03-16T11:34:00.000-07:00

Opal is one of the most beautiful and fascinating stones used in Native American jewelry.

Opal is a form of silica. Water makes up from 6% to 10% on average of its content, which makes it advisable to protect it from extreme dryness.

It appears in shades of white, black, red, orange, green, blue, yellow and a rainbow of other colors, of which the most common are white and green, with the rarest being red in black. The colors shimmer due to the refractive structure of the material. The term "opalescent" is erroneously used to describe this phenomenon. In fact, that term refers to the milky look of a form of opal-like substance known as "potch", often found near opal deposits.

Opal veins tend to yield material that is very thin. In order to use this material in jewelry, a special technique often is applied to create "doublets" and "triplets." The former is accomplished by backing the opal with a black material, emphasizing the way the colors play for the eye. The latter also backs a thin slice of natural opal with a dark material and adds a thin, clear dome of quartz or plastic atop. The dome tends to magnify the color display while protecting the opal beneath it, which is inherently fragile.

There are other forms of natural opal that are seldom used in jewelry. These include milk opal, fire opal, Peruvian blue opal and boulder opal. These material are occasionally used in carvings.

Opal mining is hot, dry, dusty and often frustrating work.

About 97% of jewelry-quality, natural opal comes from mines in Australia. I have visited the opal mines in Coober Pedy, South Australia, which is a major source for natural opal. The otherwise barren, outback landscape is studded with deep vertical shafts and mounds of earth that has been extracted during the mining process. These earthen mounds are often picked through by visitors looking for potch that, while not usable for quality opal, may have some scraps of color. These make interesting souvenirs. We have a few pieces in our collection.

As an aside, "fossickers" - that's what they are called - are not advised to do so at night.
The holes often are unseen in the dark and they are very deep. Bye-bye.

An interesting aspect of Coober Pedy is the homes and rooms carved into the escarpment excavations left behind by mining. One is even a chapel. Because they are underground, they maintain a constant cool temperature, even at mid-day when the outside temperatures exceed 100 degrees.

Andamooka, also in South Australia, is a major source of black opal, as is Lightning Ridge in New South Wales.

Black opal is highly valued for the intensity of the color found in its black specimens.

Importing natural opal from Australia is very expensive. As a result, natural opal usually is priced beyond the reach of Native American jewelry makers.

Given the high cost of natural opal, most opal in Native American jewelry is man-made. The difference can be discerned by the human eye when a magnifier is used to view it. It is much more regular in its color display. Man-made opals also are not as dense as natural opals and may be more susceptible to drying out due to their porosity.

There is nothing inherently wrong with man-made opal, although at one point the Indian Arts and Crafts Association forbade its use in jewelry displayed for sale at the IACA Wholesale Market.

I believe it has since been permitted but only if clearly identified as man-made. It certainly approximates the flare and flash of natural opal when used in jewelry, and at significantly more affordable prices.

If you are considering purchasing jewelry with opal cabochons or inlay, be sure to ask the seller if the opal is natural or man-made. Don't pay for natural opal if you are getting man-made opal.

Opal is the birthstone for people born in October, under the sign of Scorpio.

Boulder opal sometimes has been used by Zuni fetish carvers, such as Gibbs Othole, Dee Edaakie and the late Jeff Tsalabutie. It has an almost magical appearance, displaying flashes of color in otherwise bland, brown ironstone matrix.

Delbert Charging Crow - Oglala Lakota Fetish Carver - Concluded

2011-03-05T12:25:00.000-08:00

This is the third and final part of an article about Delbert Charging Crow, written by the proprietor of ZuniLink.com, which features fetish carvings by Zuni artists and those of other tribes, such as Delbert.
To catch up to the story, scroll down to the last episode. Thank you.

He indeed had been back to his homelands in the Dakotas but was now back in Albuquerque, carrying for his granddaughter, who was attending school in Albuquerque. He was living temporarily in a motel on the east side of town. That was where we met him to look at his most recent carvings.

The more we have learned about Delbert, the more we have come to respect him as person, a friend and a kindred soul, in addition to admiring his gift as a carver. If this is your first encounter with the story of Delbert Charging Crow, we think you will find him as interesting and worthy of admiration as we do.

Delbert tells us he is an Oglala Lakota Sioux, who grew up on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in Wanblee, South Dakota. He attributes his inspiration as a carver to his Big Grandma and his Grandpa Jim, who was a stone carver. Delbert proudly states that some of the pipestone pipes his Grandpa Jim carved are in the Smithsonian Institute.

After completing high school, Delbert studied dentistry and became a dental assistant in Wanblee. Three years into this career, he was recognized for his excellence with an Award of Achievement in Dentistry. Delbert's transition from dentistry to full time fetish carver came as the result of a dream, “One day I dreamed Great Grandma appeared to me. She had a handkerchief tied to rope belt with 15 knots. She took them off and showed me they were vertebrae shaped like buffalo, and she told me I needed to carve one. It was a spiritual animal she used for good luck. That day I carved my first buffalo out of alabaster with good thoughts.” (Source: Article written by Delbert Charging Crow.)

Native American Indian names referring to historic activities are not unusual. Delbert's surname is one of those, and refers to a specific event. His great, great, great Grandfather went into battle against the Crow Indians, who were Sioux enemies at the time. He counted many “coup”, which was the act of touching the enemy with a coup stick, without getting hurt. This earned his the family surname name of “Runs After Crows”. It was later changed to “Charging Crow”.

As a fetish carver, Delbert's a style is highly recognizable. He also signs every fetishes with his “hallmark”. He carves many creatures, from many materials, and provides them with sacred medicine bundles. The bundles contain South Dakota sage in a small hide bag, accompanied by crystals, an occasional arrowhead, other stones, beads and feathers.

Each item brings a special power to the carving. The bears carry crystal symbolizing health. They also sometimes carry arrowheads, as direction finders and lenders of strength on the Red Road. Beads stand for luck and health, and represent the burdens the fetish owner carries. Feathers are collected from prairies chickens that die by the side of the road. Delbert goes out of his way to explain that he blesses the dead bird and gives it an offering of tobacco before taking the feathers. He leaves the meat for other animals to feed on.

There are exceptions to adding the sacred medicine bundle. The buffalo does not need one because of its inherent strength. Buffalo were an important part of Sioux life on the plains. The tribe's hunters followed the herd to harvest meat to feed the tribe and skins for clothing.

In this respect, the horse became integral to the survival of the tribe. Once horses were introduced to the plains, the Sioux learned to ride them. Crazy Horse earned his name as one of the first to tame wild horses. Horses allowed the tribe to keep up with the moving herds of buffalo, making hunting, eating and living much easier. When Delbert carves a horse, he adds a stick to the medicine bundle. He told us that it is so the rider will have a “walking stick” in case he wants to dismount and walk instead of riding.

The horse also has been called the “Sacred Dog” because prior to the horse's introduction to native people, dogs were used to carry burdens of the traveling party. Horses became known as “Sacred Dogs” as they more effectively took on the task of carrying people and burdens across the plains.

Delbert says that he thinks about health, strength and travel as he carves horses. He sings and prays that the spirit of the horse will be a strong traveling companion and will help it's owner be more positive in life.

“When I carve the bear, I think about how fiercely she protects. The bear digs for roots, therefore giving her the power to heal,” Delbert informs. He also says his bears all are female. We later learn, however, that bears with turned heads, called “turning bears”, are male. It is said they also represent the act of turning one's life in a good direction from a bad path. Many people acquire them for exactly that reason.

Delbert Charging Crow - Oglala Lakota Fetish Carver - Continued

2011-02-28T11:00:00.000-08:00

This is part two of a special report on Delbert Charging Crow, Lakota Sioux Native American fetish carver and how he carves. Scroll down to read Part One.

Delbert carves primarily from Pillar (black) slate, Zia alabaster, also called “white buffalo turquoise,” and catlinite (or “pipestone”). Pipestone, used for ceremonial smoking pipes, and representing the blood of the ancestors, is particularly sacred to the plains tribes,

Delbert use a specific carving ritual to invest his fetishes with the spirit and power of the stone. He starts by washing with sweet grass and offering prayers to the Creator, the ancestors and the stone people. He gives an offering of tobacco or other substance to Mother
Earth, thanking her for the precious minerals.

People ask how Delbert decides what animal to carve. His answer is typical of that given by most sculptors. The stone tells them what animal spirit is inside. But, for Delbert, the process is much deeper. Animal spirit is not just the evidence of the animal's presence. It is the animal itself, with all the power and support the animal can bring to the fetish owner.

He starts each carving by “blocking” the stone, removing its outer layer. Once that is done, the carving is placed in water, with a request to the water that it bless the stone. The surface of the stone fetish is smoothed and polished while it is underwater. This encourages the positive energy of the water to enter and be absorbed by the stone. When the smoothing is completed, the carving is held up to the Sun, with the request that the Sunboy drink water from the stone and bless the emerging fetish.

To be continued

The World of Oglala Lakota Sioux Fetish Carvings and Delbert Charging Crow

2011-02-19T08:54:00.000-08:00

The Zuni people of New Mexico rightfully hold the claim to being the original and most prolific carvers of stone fetishes. Their cosmology and carving traditions go back eons, based on religious beliefs associated with their origins as a people.

Delbert Charging Crow, however, is not Zuni. He is Oglala Lakota Sioux. Yet his carvings are respected by their owners not only for their inventiveness and artistry, but also for their spiritual, protective and healing powers.

A while back, my wife Susanne and I sat with Delbert to discuss his carving, his history and his spirituality. Before we get into that discussion, let's go back to the first time we encountered Delbert's work. It was in an Albuquerque NM Old Town gallery. We were “knocked out” by the quality of the carving and the indefinable appeal the pieces had for us. Since we never acquire any art that doesn't move us personally, we immediately sensed that his carvings were calling out to us, asking us to add them to our collection and our world.

After selecting a few to take with us, we asked where we might find Delbert so that we could tell him how taken we were with his artistry. “He frequently eats at the Church Street Cafe. You might ask them?” It being lunchtime anyway, we walked over to the Cafe and, as if it was preordained, there he was sitting at a table in the front courtyard.

We introduced ourselves, told him of our recent purchases and expressed our interest in seeing him and his work again.

After that, Delbert left our radar screen. We were unable to contact him at telephone numbers he had given us. Attempts to reach him suggested that he might have returned to his homeland in South Dakota.

Two years later, we were searching for Delbert's work again. By now, the original resource was no longer carrying his carvings.. In his free-spirited way, Delbert was on the move. We received a tip that another Old Town gallery had some of his carvings available. As we visited that gallery, Delbert appeared again - out of the blue. No one had called to tell him where we were. He found us anyway, apparently guided by some unseen force.

(To be continued)

ZuniLink.com has one of the largest and most comprehensive selections of Delbert Charging Crow fetish carvings online

Australian Aboriginal Art redux

2011-02-05T07:53:00.000-08:00

Last week, Susanne Waites, my co-proprietor of our Australian Aboriginal art gallery, and I made a presentation to about 30 people who showed up at the Captiva Memorial Library Cultural Fest to learn about the art of the Australian Aboriginal people.

I'm happy to say the crowd was rapt. There were lots of questions afterwords. And no one left early, which always is a good sign. (As a frequent public speaker, I can attest there are few things more debilitating than having an audience member get up and leave during your presentation - even if it just to visit the bathroom).

Anyway, preparing for the presentation and revisiting many pieces of Australian Aboriginal art in our collection, reminded me of how special this genre of art is to us. It was our first love in the field of Tribal Art. It happened to us when we were living in Australia and we first became aware of these talented people and their fascinating culture. We began to acquire pieces of Central Desert art, Tiwi art and Aboriginal art from the Top End.

At the time, exchange rates were much more favorable for the US dollar. Today, the Australian dollar hovers at about par with the US greenback. So Australians who want to repatriate native art to Australia have a much easier go at it.

The trigger for this blog has been the realization that, as we became so caught up in African tribal art, Arctic/Inuit carvings and Native American art, jewelry and pottery, we have put our Australian Aboriginal art in the back of our minds.

That is a shame. So here are examples of some outstanding pieces, and a link to an entire section of our web site devoted to the native art of the antipodes.

To the left is dot painting on an Australian Aboriginal coolamon, a wood bowl used for gathering and holding bush tucker. Bush tucker is a term for foodstuff that grows in the wild. The dot pattern represents a map of a sort, through which is told the stories of the tribal group's arrival in this world and where important sites are located for food gathering and ceremonial purposes.

Carrying on with the theme of dot paintings, on the right is large canvas painted in the same technique by Anmatyerre artist, Gabriella Possum. It is one of our favorite paintings. It is filled with vibrant color and is busy with symbols that the tell the story of Gabriella's country. It is the same country as her father's, the Master Australian Aboriginal artist, now deceased, whose work has sold for tens of thousands of dollars at auction. (Australian Aboriginal traditions require that the name of the dead not be stated.)

The fact that these images are even available for outsiders to see is credited to an English art advisor in Papunya, a central desert settlement, not far from Alice Springs. Geoffrey Bardon convinced the tribal elders to paint images, previously restricted to viewing by Aborigines only, to paint the images on the walls of the buildings that had been erected to shelter these nomadic people.

The results were so electric that a movement was launched. Australian Aboriginal desert art has since enlivened the aesthetics of a quasi-barren land and provided income and sustenance to the natives. The title of this painting is "Bush Tucker Dreaming".

In a different genre, the people of the north, who live in a land of "the wet" for a large part of the year, learned to harvest eucalyptus bark, scrape and cure it and paint on the clean side. It was a natural evolution since the bark panels frequently were used for structures to protect families from the rain. Materials used for these paintings were natural ochres, ground into powders and liquified, charcoal, and chalk. They were mixed into paints, using sap or ant honey as binder. The image to the left is of one such painting. Dots are generally not used in these paintings. Rather, cross-hatch designs are stroked onto the bark using twigs and small branches. These designs are called "rarrk". They have deep symbolic meanings for the groups that "own" them. Only the owners are allowed to paint a certain rarrk or to permit it to be painted.

These are some of the most secret/sacred designs in Aboriginal art. During one encounter with an artist, we asked her to explain the painting. She started out straight-forwardly but then lapsed into speech that was so faint we coul dnot make out what she was saying. At the conclusion of her explanation, she returned to normal speaking volume. We were told by the white art advisor that she was too polite not to respond to our question, but she could not reveal the information. This gentle stratagem served her purpose and ours.

This blog posting, which started out modestly, has taken on a life of its own. Out of respect for the reader, we will continue it in another posting later.

Thank you for your attention.

Heart of hearts. Navajo jewelry pendants.

2011-01-29T10:42:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since we shared our adventures in Native American jewelry so we doing so in this blog. Of course, you can always visit our web site to see the whole enchilada of beautiful bracelets, necklaces, earrings, pins and pendants by our cherished Native American jewelry artists.

One of our proudest moments in the search for quality Native American art and jewelry, was our discovery many years ago of Calvin Begay, a superb Navajo jewelry artist. When we found him, his atelier was at Touch of Santa Fe, a workshop in Gallup, NM.

After a falling out with the owners of that studio, Calvin moved on and we have followed him. That is easier to say than do, since Calvin seems to keep moving.

Fortunately he also keeps creating beautiful pieces of Navajo inlay. We decided to feature his heart pendants as a natural subject for this Valentines Day season of love.

An album of them has been posted to Facebook for the world to see (and, we hope, purchase.)

Just follow this link. http://apps.facebook.com/marketplace/view/-/2401427868/

And happy Valentine's Day yourself.

PS: We will ship any item of Native American jewelry free for Valentines Day. Be sure to order while there still is time. We are figuring priority mail will get it to any domestic address on time if we ship by February 9. Express mail will get there faster. If you choose that option, we will only charge for the difference between priority and overnight.

More on Dreamtime Awakenng

2011-01-26T10:29:00.000-08:00

We have created a slide show called Dreamtime awakening

to support our presentation to the the audience at Captiva Civic Association this afternoon. I'll try to add it to this blog so you may see it.

View more presentations from William Waites.

Or visit the Australian Room at TribalWorks

See us on Captiva, 1/26, 4:30 pm

2011-01-21T17:03:00.000-08:00

We are scheduled to make a presentation on "Dreamtime Awakening: Understanding Australian Aboriginal Art" as part of the Captiva Memorial Library Cultural Fest on January 26, 2011 at 4:30 pm.

The event will take place in the Captiva Civic Association meeting room at 15500 Chapin Lane, Captiva.

The event is free and will include examples of Aboriginal that we have collected since 1978. Many of these pieces are displayed on line in the Australian Room of our web site, http:www.TribalWorks.com. For more information, contact Ann at the Captiva Memorial Library.

Special sale on African mask

2010-12-24T09:23:00.000-08:00

We are offering this authentic African tribal art mask from the Kuba people for 50% off the regular price. It has been listed in our gallery, http://www.TribalWorks.com, at $1,000.

We now will sell it at $500. The wrought iron stand is included.

It is a stunning work of African tribal mask art, authentic in every way. We acquired it for our personal collection in 1996. While the precise age can not be determeind, we know it is at least 15 years old, today.

Contact us at 800-305-0185 to arrange purchase. Thank you.

Stolen Item Alert

2010-12-12T10:08:00.000-08:00

As members of the Antique Tribal Art Dealers Association (ATADA), we periodically receive alerts concerning items of tribal art that have been reported stolen. Experience suggests that wide dissemination of the alert to those who buy, collect or deal in tribal art can lead either to the arrest of the thief or suppression of the item's value as it is a crime to possess stolen property.

The latest alert concerns a three-stone turquoise Navajo bracelet.

More information about the stolen item and other stolen items reported to ATADA can be found at this link. http://www.atada.org/theft.html#szephyr2010

Aboriginals: Art of the First Person and its subsidiary web site, Native-JewelryLink.com are happy to support ATADA's efforts to discourage the theft of tribal art by reposting these alerts.

Melvin Sandoval fills our inventory of fetish carvings

2010-11-21T17:35:00.000-08:00

Melvin Sandoval is a remarkably talented carver, with a sense of contemporary style that is unusual, even among his cohort of excellently talented artists.
His pieces are fluid, soft, supple and sophisticated in style. He has carved bears, lizards, badgers, double animals, wolves, foxes, ravens and eagles, in dolomite and other stones.
We fell in love with his carving the first time we encountered it. We have since become good friends with him, his family and his wife, Erma, who is Zuni. This summer, he graciously invited us to join a baptism celebration in his sister's home. It was an extremely memorable experience. We met his entire, I mean "entire", family, and the food just kept coming from the kitchen.
Thank you, Melvin, We were honored to be your guests and honored to be your friend.

To see Melvin's work, go to ZuniLink.com

New Dee Edaakie Carvings

2010-11-16T08:26:00.000-08:00

We are working fast and furiously, well, not "furiously", more like joyously, to post up new fetish carvings that we acquired this summer for our ZuniLink web site.

The latest batch is from Dee Edaakie.

Here are three examples:

Buffalo in boulder opal

Standing bear in Chiapas amber

Bear in picture rock

Since we are running late, we are marking down all of Dee's work, even his older pieces, by 25% just through Friday, November 26.

If you see one (or more) that you want to buy at this special discounted price, use the order code "DeeLights" when you order. The discount will be applied to your purchase.

To see more of Dee's work, go to ZuniLink and look through Dee's pages.

Salvador Romero Carvings Are Up

2010-11-15T06:24:00.000-08:00

We have just completed posting of new Salvador Romero Cochiti carvings to our Web site. These are the same carvings he refers to in this video interview. Scroll down for savings news.

See them and more outstanding work on the Web site.

Bear

Owl

Raven

Wolf and cub

Buy now to have for holiday giving. Use the special customer's buyer's code "11/15" and save 20% through November 25, 2010.

Save 25% off Native American jewelry earrings

2010-10-24T09:40:00.000-07:00

Breaking silence here to announce that we are deducting 25% off every earrings pair purchased from our Native American Jewelry Link site. Pages and pages at 25% discount, to celebrate the many new pairs we have added. Prices start as low as $20 before discount. Take a look, but move quickly. Christmas and the holidays are coming. And almost every pair we have is one-of-a- kind. When it's sold, it is "out the door".

Click on the link above to reach the first of 20 pages and more than a hundred pairs to choose from. Then visit the remaining pages to see the entire selection.

Calculate your cost and savings by subtracting 25% from the list price on the web site. Thank you.

Thank you.

Native American jewelry, Gold and Silver

2010-09-30T09:47:00.000-07:00

In December last year, I blogged about gold hovering around $1,200 an ounce, comparing that to to an earlier message when I reported it was about $800 per ounce.

Today, it probably will close above $1,300 per ounce. Silver is tagging right along behind it, having moved from about $12 an ounce to above $21 per ounce when I checked last.

Silver plays an essential part in the making of of the Native American jewelry. Gold is less important these days because the price of gold has moved above the investment level of many American Indian jewelry artists.

Will silver be the next precious metal that becomes "too precious" for use in native American Indian jewelry?

No one knows. And no one should encourage you or anyone else to buy either gold or silver as an investment. If you have the resources, the ability to take the risk and a lot more knowledge than we can impart here, it might be worth making it a part of your investment portfolio.

On the other hand, we know that the increase in the value of gold, and more important recently, silver, means that jewelry we acquired at much lower gold prices and silver prices are much more valuable today. If history repeats, it will become more valuable still.

Here's the really good news. None of the precious metal jewelry items we have for sale has been increased in price. We are charging exactly what we were back then. Clearly, the replacement cost will be higher. But that is for us to worry about.

As the Holidays approach and gift giving begins to rise on our interest levels, this is an excellent time to visit our Native-JewelryLink web site and shop.

For the month of October, we will even ship jewelry orders domestically at our expense, free to you (exclusive of insurance, if requested), just to get you in the Christmas shopping mode.

Of course, as always, if you are unhappy with your purchase from us after you receive it, you have seven days to let us know and a reasonable time thereafter to send it back for a refund. If you purchase it as a gift, we will honor the return privilege until 10 days after Christmas.

Stop by and see some of the most gorgeous Native America Indian jewelry you will ever see, artists such as Begay, Plummer, Jackson, Dewa, Ration, Coonsis and others. Thank you.

Tribal Art Native AmericanNavajo rug reported stolen

2010-09-27T07:40:00.000-07:00

Antique Tribal Art Dealers Association, of which Aboriginals is a member, has posted anothter stolen object report.

In this case it is a Navajo Ganado Style rug that was stolen on Sept 22, 2010 from the Phioenix Tribal Arts Show.

For more information, visit the ATADA Stolen Objects page this address.

http://www.atada.org/theft.html#ganado2010

Please be alert for anyone trying to sell this rug. It is stolen property and it is against the law to possess it.

Thank you.

Native American Nativity Sets Arrive in time for Christmas

2010-09-22T13:18:00.000-07:00

Around 400 years ago, as the Spanish conquistadors moved north from Central America into the pueblo lands in what was to become the

United States of America

, they brought with them Catholic missionaries, to spread the story of Christianity.

As the story of Christ’s birth began to permeate some of the beliefs of the native people, it began to find a place in pueblo Indian culture.

Eventually, the Nativity became a staple as a subject for several Pueblo potters. Now, some of the beautiful pottery being created portrays the Nativity scene.

We recently returned from the Southwest, where we had the opportunity to acquire some new Nativity sets.

Three of them are pictured below.
For more details including price, a quick click on the pictures here will take you the object’s page on our pottery web site.

With Christmas rapidly approaching, this is a excellent time to comnsider acquiring on of these or our other Nativity sets to celebrate Christmas in your home. And to own a magnificent work of Native American art that your family hand down from generation to generation,

Feliz Navidad!

PS: As I wrote this blog, I was reminded of a more comprehensive article I wrote for broader publication a few years ago. I have posted it here.

Jeff Shetima's Zuni Six Directions Fetish Carving

2010-09-16T17:38:00.000-07:00

The definition of "smitten" - how I fell in love with this beautiful six directions fetish carving by Jeff Shetima. The Gallup InterTribal Indian Ceremonial judges agreed apparently since it received the Best of Category Blue Ribbon at that competition. Anyway, here's a video look at it.

Hope you enjoy looking at it as much as I enjoy owning it. Someday it may even show up on our ZuniLink fetish web site. And thanks to Jeff Shetima for his inspired artistry.

Vintage Australian Aboriginal Art comes out of hiding.

2010-09-12T06:01:00.000-07:00

Well, not exactly out of "hiding". But, until now these vintage Australian Aboriginal artefacts have been in our private collection and not shared publicly on the Web. As of this weekend, they have been added to the web site and may be seen in all their glory and detail at TribalWorks.com (navigate to the Australian Room).

Here are some sneak previews.

This smallish woomera (spearthrower) was acquired from well-respected Aboriginal art dealer, Tony Bond, in Adelaide, Australia, in 2000. The age was estimated as ca. 1950s.

This somewhat larger woomera was acquired from a private collection in Sydney after the death of the collector. It's age is estimated at ca. 1950 as well. If you look closely you can see incisions that have been inscribed on the thrusting face of the object.

The next item is a "message board" - a carved oblong of would with Australian Aboriginal iconography etched on it's face. Message boards were used to communicate between Aborigibal groups in the desert. We have high confidence that this item is more than 100 years old. We acquired it from a dealer i 1996 who attested that it was originally acquired by a government officer in the 119th century.

Finally, here is a "fighting" shield, although it probably was used more for dancing. since Aborigines very seldom fought. It has been reported that settling of inter-tribal grievances would be done by the aggrieved groups confronting one another, dancing in threatening ways, and returning to their camps with both sides claiming victory. True? At least, it's a nice story in these days of mayhem and violence.

All of these pieces and more may be inspected more closely by visiting the TribalWorks web site, clicking on the "Australian Room" and then clicking on "carvings".

Tribal Art from our private collection

2010-09-07T16:50:00.000-07:00

Poking around in our personal collection, we have turned up a couple of items never before presented to our public.

One Australian Aboriginal item is a beautiful, round, hand-woven basket done in pandanus fiber, with a firmly fitting lid, a four-coil handle and rosettes on each side. We acquired it in Cairns, at the Capricorn Gallery.

At the time, it was highly regarded by the gallery owner, as an outstanding example of the basket-weaving tradition and skills of the Australian Aboriginal artisans from the Oenpelli/Kakadu region of the Northern Territory.

The size is 10" high by 13" in diameter.

Unfortunately, the name of the basket weaver has been lost to the ages.

Pandanus is a common plant fiber from the Australian outback and top end, that is used for basket making. Colors are achieved by dying the fibers with natural ochres, ground into a fine powder and boiled in water.

This basket is a true expression of Australian Aboriginal culture and art in a functional piece. It is possible to be moved by the spirit when looking at it and feeling the quality of the weaving.

A second item from Aboriginal Australia is this carving of a parrot. We believe it was created by an Aborigine artist from Groote Eylandt, a sizable island to the north of the Australian mainland in the Gulf of Carpentaria. The Blitners are a well-known family of artists from Groote Eylandt and we feel one of them could have been the creator of this remarkable piece.

Groote Eylandt is occupied by the Warnindhilyagwa people. It received its unusual name when named by Dutch explorer, Abel Tasman. Groote Eylandt is archaic Dutch for Large Island.

Regional cultures within Australia can vary widely in their traditions and art styles. The somewhat rough quality of this carving suggests it is rather old piece, although we can not attest to its age. We find it very powerful, reflecting portrayal from a time when parrots were important totems in Northern Australia. It is one of our favorite vintage pieces, standing 26" high with a 4.5" diameter at the base. Colors were achieved using natural ochres, kaolin and charcoal.

Eventually, both of these items will find their way to our web site. If you are interested n acquiring either of them, please visit us at TribalWorks.com and navigate to the Australian Room.

You are always welcome.

Sal Romero, Cochiti fetish carver, on video

2010-09-01T08:11:00.000-07:00

One of our favorite Native American artists is Salvador Romero of Cochiti Pueblo. Sal carves differently from most Zuni fetish carvers. Whereas Zuni fetish carvers tend to carve in special gemstone and other commercial materials, Salvador carves stones and rocks that he harvests from the grounds of his pueblo. In this video, he talks about the process of finding carving material and how it leads him to what to carve.

ZuniLink, a name we chose because the preponderance of fetish carvers are Zuni, carries several pages of Salvador's carvings. Newly acquired one will be posted to the Web site shortly In the meantime, take a look at what's available now from this talented carver.
Thank you.

Samuel Manymules, Navajo, describes his "Perfect World" pot

2010-08-24T07:13:00.000-07:00

We have several pots created by Samuel Manymules, who won to awards at this year's Indian Market. We were particualar struck by this pot when we encountered Samuel in his Indian Market booth.

We asked him to describe it on video tape for our viewers.

When you visit our website, click on the Navajo buttons on the navigation panel.

Lena Boone, Zuni fetish carver, talks about her family and carving.

2010-08-24T04:24:00.000-07:00

Lena Boone has long been one of our favorite Zuni carvers. We meet her early in our pursuit of wonderful Zuni fetishes, possibly 20 years ago.

Lena is very productive, very gracious, and very giving of her love, care and attention to others.

She also is very unassuming.

An unfortunate aspect of In this video, during which she talks about her family, both ancestral and current, is my difficulty in arranging a proper video interview venue. Once she agreed, I had to settle for the venue at hand. It was a noisy booth at this year's Indian Market (2010).

The background sound is terrible, and I have not figured out how to filter it out, if that is even possible. If I do, I will re-post the video at a later time.

But for now, please listen carefully and learn about Lena's connection to the legendary Teddy Weahkie, one of the original Zuni fetish carvers, and how she fosters the talent of youngsters who have been in her care.

She is a truly remarkable woman.

You may see many pieces by Lena Boone on her pages at ZuniLink.com - click on one of her pages in the left hand navigation column. Then click on additional pages (there are five) as you go.

You may also use the search box on the Zuni Link home page and enter "Boone" too access carvings by her and Leland Boone, Emery Boone and Evalena Boone.

A fetish carving by Lena Boone not only brings traditional Zuni values of healing and protection but also carries the personal spirit and caring of Lena herself.

Thank you.

2010-08-20T05:58:00.000-07:00

A highlight of our visit to New Mexico has been the 2010 Gallup InterTribal Indian Ceremonial, including the night parade that kicks it off.

We videotaped portions of it, which are shown in the following embedded youtube videos. Because of the length of the parade, we had to divide it into two parts. Watch both to get the full impact of the event.

We love the richness of Indian culture, its fidelity to family values, its enthusiasm and its arts, including Zuni carvings, Native American jewelry and Pueblo pottery, all of which are presented for purchase on our web sites. Thank you.

Zuni fetish carver, Burt Awelagte, tells about his carvings

2010-08-20T05:50:00.000-07:00

While we were in Zuni and Gallup for the InterTribal, we visited Burt Awelagte in his home on the Zuni Pueblo. Here is what he had to say about his materials, his tools, his art and his vision. Fascinating!

More of Burt's Zuni fetish carvings will soon be posted on our ZuniLink website. Make a point to visit it in the future. Thank you

Sheryl Mahooty discusses her Zuni turtle fetish carvings

2010-08-20T05:46:00.000-07:00

One of our favorite places to stay is on the Zuni Pueblo. It's the Inn at Halona, about which we will write more later.

During this stay, in 2010, we met Sheryl Mahooty. Sheryl carves Zuni fetishes, preferring to carve turtles, although she carves other creatures too, as the humorous bit in this video interview shows.

As with many Native American artists, Sheryl augments her carving income by working at a second job. In her case, it is as a cook in the kitchen at the Inn at Halona. She helps to prepare the delicious breakfasts that the Inn serves to overnight guests. At the end of this video, she refers to the "B&B". Halona is the place she is talking about.

We were particularly fascinated by Sheryl's story because of her interpretation of turtle nesting and nurturing. As sometime residents of Sanibel iIsland, we are very aware of turtle nesting on the island beaches. So, we offer Sheryl's story (and her carvings) to all nature lovers and turtle fans. Enjoy.

ATADA addresses Federal raids on Native American artifact dealers and collectors.

2010-08-18T17:11:00.000-07:00

We attended a meeting of the Antique Tribal Art Dealers Association on August 16, 2010 in Santa Fe.

The subject was the incidences of raids conducted by Federal investigators in the homes and premises of dealers in Native American pre-historic artifacts.

While ATADA opposes and condemns the behavior of the some bad actors in the pre-historic artifacts trade. But the ATADA maintains that the raids and allegations against a wide number of dealers, three of whom committed suicide, were without legal basis.

Jim Owen, a retired attorney, collector and member of ATADA, provided these comments at the meeting.

We do not endorse or rebut these observations. We are not attorneys. We feel, however, that the more you know about this controversy, the better you will be prepared to draw your own conclusions.

Brian Yatsattie tells about his Zuni fetish art.

2010-08-18T06:16:00.000-07:00

During our travels in the Southwest, we found Brian Yatsattie at his home. We have carried Brian's Zuni fetish carvings for a while, having first met him at the Santo Domingo Arts & Crafts Festival in 2009. His six directions carvings, created in antler are still available on our web site.

This year, we acquired more Zuni fetishes from him and also had an opportunity to videotape him outside of his home, which now is on San Felipe Pueblo. Here is the Brian Yatsattie in his own words.

Brian's new Zuni carvings will soon be posted at http://www.ZuniLink.com. Come back and look in a few days.

Thank you.

Colin Coonsis, Zuni jewelry artist speaks at the Wheelwright Museum

2010-08-10T11:21:00.000-07:00

We have been very privileged to have several Native American artists appear on our video camera to talk about their work and their motivations. If you scroll down, you will find videos by Dee Edaakie and Melvin Sandoval.

Now, we were able to videotape Colin Coonsis as he was speaking to a group at the Wheelwright Museum in Santa Fe, NM. His exposition is compelling in its honesty and fascinating in its detail.

We are pleased to consider Colin a friend. We have done business with his mother, Rolanda Haloo, and are showing on our web site a photo of an extraordinary inlaid concho belt created by his father, Harlan Coonsis. Beautiful work by Harlan and Rolanda can be seen at our web site, Native-JewelryLink.com. New items acquired from Colin will be posted there shortly.

Meet Dee Edaakie, Zuni Pueblo fetish carver.

2010-08-06T18:01:00.000-07:00

Today, we met with Dee Edaakie, one of our favorite Zuni carvers. We enjoy Dee both because of his superb and inventive carving and because he is a genuinely nice person. He came to our Santa Fe casita, accompanied by his young daughter. We purchased four carvings from him, and induced him to tell you about them in this video.

We hope that getting to know the carvers we work with and who we support will give you an even better sense of what Zuni fetish carvings are about. You will see more of Dee Edaakie's work and that of other carvers at ZuniLink, our web site featuring these outstanding works and the artists that create them.

A video interview with Melvin Sandoval

2010-08-05T01:55:00.000-07:00

This blog contains a video. Scroll down to view it.

Introduction

Yesterday, we had the great pleasure of spending some time with Melvin Sandoval in his San Felipe Pueblo home.

We were driving through the Pueblo on our way to another meeting when we passed Melvin's home. One of his sons was in the front yard tending to the corn crop that was in various stages of ripening. Melvin later told us some of it already had been harvested, while other rows are still to reach maturity.

We pulled into Melvin's driveway and called to his son, "Is Melvin here?" In less than thirty seconds, Melvin emerged from behind his tidy, manufactured home. His hands were filled with small pieces of stone and covered with dust. We had caught him in the act of carving.

After a few seconds of "who are you?" looks from Melvin, we identified ourselves, "Susanne and Bill Waites". We had not seen Melvin for a couple of years. His appearance had changed and so had ours. Of course, we had the advantage of knowing where we were. For Melvin, we were just two people who appeared unannounced in a (rental) car he didn't recognize.

As the light of recognition came on, there were hearty, "How are you"s, followed by embraces of reunion.

Melvin invited us into his home and we sat at his dining table, catching up. He has a new granddaughter, by name of Madison, and he had started carving in earnest again, after a break for family and pueblo duties.

He showed us some of his newest carvings - a couple of otters, a couple of wolves and an eagle. The first four are in dolomite, a stone he likes to carve but has not had much supply of lately. The eagle is in travertine.

As he shared his vision, artistry and motivation with us, we asked if we could record him talking about it.

The Video:

Acknowledgements:

We enjoy our time with Melvin, as we do with all of our artist friends from Native America.

It is one of the fringe benefits of operating web sites that feature their work - ZuniLink.com, Native-JewelryLink.com, Native PotteryLink.com and TribalWorks.com.

We hope you also will enjoy this encounter with Melvin Sandoval, a San Felipe carver with ties to Zuni and a deft touch in the Zuni style. His new carvings will be available on ZuniLink in September.

Mark Bahti comments on Native American jewelry

2010-07-29T12:01:00.000-07:00

We don't normally feature articles from other sources. But this interview in Collectors Weekly is so rich and informative that we are making an exception.

We encourage you to click through to it. Learn all you can from this fascinating author and collector about this fascinating subject.

Then, come to our Native American jewelry web site and check out the prices on our Native American bracelets, earrings, necklaces, pins and pendants. All are guaranteed authentically hand-made by Native American artists.

Thank you.

Coming up in August - Gallup Intertribal

2010-07-22T16:53:00.000-07:00

In early August, Gallup, NM will host the 2010 Gallup Indian Inter-tribal Festival. This is a great event. It features a major exposition at NM's Red Rocks state Park and a night time parade down Route 66 in Gallup to open the event. We were there two years ago and posted a photo report on this blog (August, 2008). We plan to attend again this year.

A highlight of the parade is the company of Zuni Olla Maidens. These are Zuni women who march and dance with Zuni pottery ollas on their heads, while marching down Gallup's Route 66 (main street). One wonders how they can do it and not have the pots fallto the ground. But they do.

The Indian Trader, a Gallup newspaper, covers the story of the Olla Maidens in interesting detail along with some fascinating photographs. Since The Indian Trader is not online, you won't see this article, unless you enjoy a subscription. Phone 505-870-2135. But watch this blog in August. We plan to cover it.

Stay tuned.

And visit our web site at ZuniLink.com for more information and insight into Zuni traditions.

A Fascinating Tale of Australian Aboriginal Art.

2010-05-30T08:31:00.000-07:00

William Ernest Waites periodically reports on tribal art news and happenings. This report features information about Australian Aboriginal art.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have recently come across an article that was written some time ago that covers the history of Australian Aboriginal tribal art and its emergence from the communities and stations of the outback onto the main stage of world fine art. The article, written by Carly Berwick, was published in ArtNews.com. It was based on a show of collector John Wilkerson’s 50 works of Australian Aboriginal art, which toured the US.

Entitled, Collecting the Dots, the article charts the history of Australian Aboriginal art in the commercial marketplace. In 1971, an English schoolteacher encouraged schoolchildren in the northwestern territory community of Papunya to paint on the walls of their concrete block homes.

In short order, the tribal elders became so excited about seeing their ancient dreamtime stories portrayed that they joined in. Soon, the paintings evolved to masonite boards and canvases. Palettes evolved from natural ochre, charcoal and chalk to acrylics and commercial colors.

The designs, which were not called “art” by the Aboriginal artists - there is no word for art in any Aboriginal language – began to merge into perceptions of modernism, although they were rooted in the timeless stories passed down from generation to generation telling of the Creation, or Dreamtime. Often called "Dreamings", the stories describe the arrival on the face of the earth by ancient ancestors, and of their interaction with the landscape and geography.

Captivated collectors, such as Wilkerson and Richard Kelton, began to acquire the works of the “mob”, as the desert painters were called. These works by the likes of Johnny Warangkula Tjupurrula, Mick Namararri Tjapaltjarri, Shorty Lungkarla and Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri became the core of a show that began to tour the US. "Dreamings: The Art of Aboriginal Australia" was shown in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles in 1988.

Early paintings, for which as little as US$80 or less was paid, laid the groundwork for auction results which began to amaze the art world. In 2007, a work from 1977 by Clifford Possum has hammered down at US$2 million in a Sotheby’s Auction in Melbourne, Australia.

Granted that Clifford Possum had taken the genre to new concepts with that painting, “Warlugulong”, which portrayed the total of Possum’s Dreamings as a map seen from above in a huge canvas.

I encourage you to visit ArtNews Archives to read the entire story.

But first, a side trip to a tale of two collectors who were active in Australian Aboriginal art at about the same time. Susanne and I began our collection in the late 1970s, traveling to Alice Springs to acquire a few pieces. Then back again in the mid-90s, when we ventured back to Alice, up to Darwin and to the Yirrkala community at Nhulumbuy (Gove). We also revisited our former home in Adelaide where several Aboriginal resources were available. Our last trip to Australia was in 2001 (September, to be exact; a very memorable time). On that trip we visited Darwin again, the Tiwi Islands, Maningrida, Oenpelli, and down the Sturt Highway to Alice, Adelaide, then flying to Sydney.

But this is not about our travels. It is about our relationship with the art.

In the meantime we had moved to Chicago. About the time the “Dreamings: The Art of Aboriginal Australia” was touring the US, we moved to Fort Myers, Florida. We opened our gallery, Aboriginals: Art of the First Persons, on Sanibel Island. By the late 90s, we had two shows featuring works from our collection. One at the Museum of Fine Art in Owensboro, KY, and one at the Alliance for the Arts in Fort Myers, FL.

Little did we appreciate that we were in the vanguard of Australian Aboriginal art’s growing world-wide popularity. All we knew was that we had several paintings by outstanding Aboriginal artists, works that bring beauty and grace to our lives and home.

We include all the paintings, desert paintings and bark paintings and artifacts, on our web site at TribalWorks. We invite you to enjoy them with us.

Shown here are works (l) by Gabriella Possum, Clifford's daughter, & (r) Pansy Napangati.

Of possible additional interest is this video that discusses the care and storage of these valuable works of art.

video

PS: Shortly after Hurricane Charley smashed into Sanibel and Captiva Islands, we closed our Sanibel gallery, deciding to exhibit and sell exclusively online. Nothing was damaged in the storm; not us or any of the art. But we took it as a sign that it was time, after 16 years into a 15-year project, to do things differently.

2010-05-25T09:16:00.000-07:00

Reprinting verbatim from SWAIA We greatly regret that we will miss this show as we at Aboriginals: Art of the First Person are great fans of Ira Lujan and Spooner. We have a few glass works by Ira, including this one that was made on commission from us. Please visit our websites at Native-PotteryLink.com, Native-JewelryLink.com and ZuniLink.com

Native Modern Art and Design Series Continues
with Photography and Glass

Who: Legends Santa Fe and the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA)

What: Native Modern: Art and Design Series. Paper and Glass
Where: Legends Gallery: 143 Lincoln Ave. Santa Fe, NM (505) 983-5639
When: Friday June 4, 2010 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
How Much: Free

The Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA) and Legends Santa Fe is presenting the most ambitious exhibit in its Native Modern: Contemporary Native Art and Design Exhibit Series. Following the success of "Precious Metal" and "Against the Grain," the third installment of Native Modern "Paper and Glass" will push the definitions of Native art into unexpected places.
With established and award winning artists including,

* Will Wilson Photography
* Ira Lujan, Glass
* Robert Spooner Marcus, Glass
* Da-Ka-Xeen Mehner, Photography
* Larry McNeil, Photography
* Lillian Pitt, Glass

Paper and Glass promises to be the most talked about Native art gallery show in recent history. The use of glass and photography by Native artists as materials for their creative expression embodies a strikingly clear, dynamic and unclaimed energy. From the socio-political to the broader language of commodity and culture, Paper and Glass reveals a new bravado in Native self-representation.

The Native Modern series of exhibits debuts a new show every month at Legends Santa Fe. SWAIA and Legends Santa Fe will seek distinctive and previously untested ways of bringing Native artists together from across cultures, media and themes. The shows, like Indian Market, will be at once traditional and brimming with innovative ideas. The result will be the presentation of Native art unlike anything else in Santa Fe.

2010-05-22T08:32:00.000-07:00

This posting and the "borrowed" youtube video are presented by the proprietors of Aboriginals: Art of the First Person, who also host websites devoted to African tribal art, Australian Aboriginal art, Native American art, jewelry and pottery and art from other tribal traditions.

I stumbled across this essay on beauty and art by Philosopher Roger Scruton. It started me thinking about the role of "beauty" in tribal art.

When we look at tribal art, certainly authentic tribal art, we usually see what the artist perceived as "beautiful" within his or her culture.

I think of exquisitely carved African masks and sculpture, shimmering Native American jewelry, lovely Pueblo Pottery, Inuit carvings that please the eye and Australian Aboriginal art that may challenge Western concepts of beauty but represent attempts by those artists to create beauty in their daily life.

Moreover, given the cultural values of Aboriginal art, why would any artist want to reflect on it with shame or mockery?

So it strikes me that lovers of tribal art are privileged to apply their devotion to fields where art that mocks beauty is rare and seldom seen.

What do you think?

Upcoming Events In Native American Arts

2010-05-10T03:23:00.000-07:00

This summary of impending events of interest to collectors and admirers of Native American Indian and other tribal art, is presented by Aboriginals: Art of the First Person and its allied web sites at Native-JewelryLink.com, for fine, hand-made Native American jewelry, Native-PotteryLink.com, for authentic Indian Pueblo pottery, TribalWorks.com for a mix of African, Australian, Arctic and Navajo folk art, and ZuniLlink.com, offering outstanding Zuni, Cochiti, Navajo and San Felipe carvings by top fetish carvers.
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May 30-31 - The annual Jemez Red Rocks Arts and Crafts Show at Jemez Pueblo - Call 505-834-7235

June 7 - Bonhams' Native American and Pre-columbian Art Auction - San Francisco - Call 415-861-7500

June 18-20 - Red Earth, America's Greatest Native American Cultural Festival - Oklahoma City - Call 405-427-5228

June 24 - Taos Pueblo San Juan Feast Day - Taos Pueblo - No cameras allowed.

June 25-27 - Cody Old West Show and Auction - Denver, CO - Call 307-587-9014

July 2-4 - Annual Hopi Festival of Arts and Culture - Museum of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff, AZ - Call 928-774-5213

July 9-11 - Taos Pueblo Pow Wow - Taos Pueblo, Taos, NM - Call 575-758-1028

July 24-25 - High Country Arts and Crafts Festival - Eagles Nest, NM - Call 574-377-2420

July 25-26 - Taos Pueblo Feast Days of Santiago and Santa Ana - Taos Pueblo - Taos, NM

August 6-8 - Navajo Festival of Arts and Culture - Museum of Northern Arizona - Flagstaff, AZ

August 6-8 - Great Southwestern Antiques, Indian and Old West Show - New Mexico Fairgrounds - Albuquerque, NM - Call 505-255-4054

August 12-14 - Annual Antique Ethnographic Art Show - Santa Fe Community Convention Center - Santa Fe, NM - Call 505-992-8929

August 12-16 - Annual Inter-Tribal Ceremonial - Red Rocks State Park - Gallup, NM - Call 505-863-3896

August 13-22 - Santa Fe Show-Objects of Art - Santa Fe, NM - Call 310-456-2120

August 14-15 - Allard's Best of Santa Fe Auction - Scottish rite Hall - Santa Fe, NM - Call 888-314-0343

August 15-17 - Annual Invitational Antique Indian Art Show - Santa Fe Community Convention Center - Santa Fe, NM - Call 505-992-8929

August 19-20 - Wheelwright Museum Annual Silent Auction and Live Auction - Santa Fe, NM

August 21-22 - Santa Fe Indian Market - Santa Fe, NM - On and around the Plaza

Eunice Napangardi heads for Germany

2010-05-08T09:22:00.000-07:00

This is a report from Aboriginals: Art of the First Person , proprietors of TribalWorks.com, which deals in tribal art, including Australian Aboriginal paintings.

Well, not the actual Eunice Napangardi. She unfortunately passed away about five years ago.

This Eunice Napangardi is a lovely Australian Aboriginal desert dot painting created by Eunice in about 1995. We have had it in our collection since 2000.

It was a portrayal of the Bush Banana dreaming, which Eunice's clan is entitled to paint.
Her paintings depict variations of the radiating vines of the bush banana plant, which grows in rock crevices close to the dry river beds. Known as Yuparli in the Aboriginal language of Eunice's Warlpiri home near Yuendumu, it is gathered by the Aboriginal women both as fruit and as medicine. Bush Banana is very important in Aboriginal culture because of its combined healing and nutritional qualities.

Bush Banana Dreaming (signifies the journey of Yuparli ancestors). In this respect, it is like many Aboriginal dreamings, which portray various aspects of Aboriginal history and mythology. Such paintings were originally done by men artists, on the ground at corroborees (or clan gatherings). As a result, they also were often referred to as sand paintings. Among their purposes was to share the culture with younger members of the clans as they grew and acquired knowledge.

Eunice was one of the first women painters, emerging shortly after an English art advisor in the desert convinced tribe members that it was okay to paint their stories. Even then, the deep meanings of the symbols, shapes and icons are not shared outside the clan, and often not outside the senior men.

Now, Bush Banana Dreaming by Eunice Napangardi has found a new home with a wise investor in Aboriginal art.

Eunice's paintings are totally unique. She demonstrates a great artistic flair and surety of touch in her ability to represent one dreaming.

Watch out for stolen concho belt

2010-05-06T06:34:00.000-07:00

The Antique Tribal Art Dealers Association (ATADA), of which Aboriginals: Art of the First Person is a member, has issued an alert for a concho belt believed to have been stolen from a motel room in Gallup, NM.

The belt is a Zuni needlepoint turquoise concho belt by the Panteahs, using Sleeping Beauty turquoise. It was created in the 1970s.

At the time of the theft, the belt was owned by Pat Harrington.

For more information visit the theft alert page at http://www.ATADA.org

Keep your eyes open for the stolen item. It is important for anyone who encounters it to notify the authorities or Pat Harrington at 505-256-1023.

Possession of stolen property is a crime.

Ten reasons to give your Mom authentic Native American jewelry for Mother’s Day

2010-04-25T06:54:00.000-07:00

She’s your Mother. Du-uhh.
Better than a Mother’s Day Card. Are you kidding? What part of reason #1 did you not understand?
Better than candy. Candy rots the teeth. Is that any way to treat your Mother? (Of course, they say chocolate is good for your heart. But, still…).
Better than flowers. Flowers promote allergies. A week later, the flowers are gone; the sneezing lingers on.
Like your Mother, it’s one of a kind. No two pieces of authentic hand-made Native American jewelry are identical.
Like your Mother, Native American jewelry is filled with love. Cherished in the making, almost like a child.
There are so many choices. Earrings, bracelets, necklaces, pins, pendants. There is bound to be something your Mother will wear with pride.
There are so many beautiful materials. Silver, gold, turquoise, coral, shell, lapis, sugilite, malachite, mother of pearl, opal. Colors to match her favorite outfit.
Prices are reasonable, especially considering the artistry, time and care that goes into the making. Even high-end pieces are good value.
She is worth it. See reason #1.

Brought to you in blatant self-interest by the proprietors of Native-JewelryLink.com.

Happy Mother's Day to all.

African tribal art collection goes to auction

2010-04-24T12:17:00.000-07:00

Authentic African tribal art in a collection from a private collector in Ohio, will be offered at Dan Morphy Auctions on May 13-15, 2010, according to the web site, ArtYouKnow.com

The collection is comprised of items that were carved in Africa, according to art dealer and appraiser, Oumar Keinde. Keinde stated that the items in the collection are geared mostly for entry level buyers and those who seek African art for purposes of decor They range from between 1950 and the late 2oth century.

For more information , visit ArtYouKnow.com.

Similar items are available from the collection of susanne and William Waites at Aboriginals: Art of the First Person's online gallery at TribalWorks.com

Mary Cain, Santa Clara potter passes

2010-04-24T09:02:00.000-07:00

We are saddened to learn and report that Mary Cain , famed Santa Clara Pueblo potter, has passed away.

Notice was posted in the Alburquerque Journal on April 23, 2010.

Cain was the grandmother of Tammie Garcia and was part of a long, continuing and distinguished line of Santa Clara potters. She will be missed, but the beauty of work will be with us forever.

We have, from time to time, offered work done by Mary at our pottery link web site. At the present, we have none of her pots in our inventory. Mary was 95 years old.

ArtPark comments on the rise of Australian Aboriginal art

2010-04-23T11:12:00.000-07:00

Here's a link to a blog article from ArtPark concerning the growing popularity of Australian aboriginal art,

http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d83500c41a53ef0133ecd83c28970b

Institute of American Indian Arts to host the Spring Homecoming Powwow on May 8, 2010.

2010-04-22T17:45:00.000-07:00

This is a periodic blog message by Aboriginals: Art of the First Person on the subject of tribal art. Aboriginals Gallery hosts web sites at Native JewelryLink,com, Native-PotteryLink.com and ZuniLink.com.

In what has become a tradition, the Spring Homecoming Powwow will be staged at the Institute of American Indian Art (IAIA) campus in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

The public is invited to browse the powwow grounds, visit craft and art booths, and purchase items from Native food vendors. Spectacular Indian dances also will be performed, which are open to viewing by the public. There is no admission charge to attend.

Dancing starts at 11:00 am with the gourd dance, followed at noon by the Grand Entry, which will be repeated at 6:00 pm.

The head man and head lady are Ensley Aquilar and Elizabeth Nevaquaya, respectively, both IAIA students.

The northern drum will be Red Road Crossing. The southern drum will be Zotigh Singers.

If you would like more information, you may call 505-424-2339.

Aboriginals Gallery featured in Fort Myers News-Press

2010-04-17T07:16:00.000-07:00

It was a very pleasant surprise when Evelyn Longa contacted us on the phone and said she had been tipped that our online tribal art gallery would be a good subject for her Artful Shopper column.

After a brief telephone conversation, during which we answered Ms. Longa's questions, she said we would be in the following Monday's edition of the (Fort Myers) News-Press. We were excited with anticipation. This kind of editorial coverage has a lot of credibility. While we are proud of what do and have done, that's just us. A third party reference is worth a lot.

Came Monday and there it was. Ms. Longa did a very fine job of reporting. Now we would like to share it with you. Here is a link to the article in the News-Press archives.

There also was a nice photo of Susanne and me, so I have scanned the article and am posting a jpg of it.
Since search engines can read jpg images, I am going to add some links to this text. For more information about our web business(es) visit TribalWorks.com for African, Arctic and Australian tribal art, Native-JewelryLink.com for hand-made American Indian jewelry, Native-PotteryLink.com for authentic Pueblo pottery and ZuniLink.com for Zuni Indian and other Native American carvings.

We hope you enjoy what you see and will comment with any question you may have.

Detroit Institute of Arts mounts a compelling African art show

2010-04-12T06:43:00.000-07:00

This is one in a series of blog messages about tribal art, including African art, presented by Aboriginals: Art of the First Person, proprietors of a web site including African tribal art at TribalWorks.com.

We learned of a new exhibit at the Detroit Institute of Arts, "Through African Eyes", from a recent review in the Detroit Free Press. The show opens April 18, 2010.

The reviewer, Mark Stryker, comments on the sensitivity of the curator, Nii Quarcoopome, in presenting the character of African art as it was influenced by Western cultural and European colonialism. We recommend a read of the review to you, which is available by going to freep.com and searching for DIA.

He writes, "Check your preconceptions with your coat. "Through African Eyes" examines the way African artists portrayed Europeans and cultural exchange from 1500 to the present, but the show dispenses with a monolithic view of Africa, noble-savage clichés and the politically correct drumbeat of the evil European "other." "

As lovers of African tribal art ourselves, we regret we will not be able to visit Detroit (my former hometown) to see the show. Fortunately, the Free Press includes a photo gallery displaying some of the most impressive objects. (Click on Photo Gallery).

An example is this: -"Chair with Four Felines (ChiefÕs Throne)." Unknown artist, Fon culture, Republic of Benin, before 1950; Wood. From the collection of Menil Collection (Detroit Institute of Arts)"

If you are in or near Detroit, be sure to see this show before it closes Sunday, August 8, 2010. If you are unable to get there, check out the Detroit Free Press article and the information at DIA.org.

Aboriginals Gallery also hosts web sites at ZuniLink.com, featuring Zuni and other Native American carvings, Native-JewelryLink.com, featuring hand-made Native American jewelry, and Native-PotteryLink.com, featuring authentic Native American and Pueblo pottery. You are invited to visit one or all of them to learn more about the fascinating world of tribal art.

Cliff Fragua art stolen in Phoenix

2010-03-06T07:35:00.000-08:00

The Antique Tribal Art Dealers Association, of which Aboriginals: Art of the First Person is a member, reports the theft in Phoenix of a trailer containing art and jewelry belonging to Cliff Fragua, Jemez. The report, including photos of some of the articles, may be accessed at

http://www.atada.org/theft.html#fragua2010

Fragua's work is highly regarded and it is estimated the jewelry alone is valued at $5,000. The ATADA reports such thefts in alerts designed to discourage sale of the items to dealers or collectors who might otherwise thing they were being offered by legitimate owners.

It is important to note that the purchase and retention of stolen articles is a crime.

The trailer was stolen from a Phoenix AZ hotel parking lot sometime during the night of March 3-4, 2010. Presumably, Fragua was attending th erenowned Indain Art Show at the Heard Museum.

If you see or are offered any of these items, please contact the Phoenix,AZ police department or Cliff Fragua, 505-252-8870

Aboriginals: Art of the First Person, operators of this blog and Native American art web sites at ZuniLink.com, Native-JewelryLink.com and Native-PotteryLink.com, supports every effort to preserve Native American art and protect the rightful ownership thereof.

2010-02-20T11:04:00.000-08:00

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

SWAIA reveals 2010 Indian Market Poster Artist

2010-02-12T12:44:00.000-08:00

This blog is devoted to tribal art from many different cultures.
The sponsors, TribalWorks. com, ZuniLink.com, Native-PotteryLink.com and Native-PotteryLink.com, try to deal with all of them representatively. Today's subject relates to Native American art and one of the most respected voices in its support.

Breaking with a tradition of naming new and emerging artists as the Indian Market Poster Artist of the Year, Southwestern Association for the Indian Arts has announced that Geronima Cruz Montoya, venerated Ohkay Owingeh (San Juan) artist's work will be honored on this year's poster.

Montoya, who will be 95 during the month following Indian Market, has been both a legend and an institution in Native American art. Her painting that will appear on the poster depicts a number of young Indian women engaged in typical Pueblo crafts. Each wears traditional clothing while they create pottery, weave, embroider and work on moccasins. The painting was created in 1938. The original hangs in the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture.

Montoya's appointment and the poster design were revealed at a special luncheon in Santa Fe on February 10, 2010. She is quoted in the Santa Fe New Mexican as reflecting that "doing the old things brings back memories from years ago, the things that just aren't done much any more."

For more information about Montoya's colorful like, which has been devoted to art, use this link http://www.santafenewmexican.com

This development leads me to wonder if recent awards at Indian Market didn't push the edge of traditional Indian art a little too far into the non-traditional. I recall thinking that numerous winners in the past couple of years, while adventurous and thought-provoking, had moved a long way from the subjects and techniques that have characterized the genre in the past. These are aspects that had established a large and vibrant pool of supporters and buyers.

I wonder if push back from buyers who have decided to sit on their purses - for whatever reason - may have played a role in this return to the roots of Native American Indian art.

In any case, I applaud the recognition of more traditional techniques and the honor bestowed on Geronima Cruz Montoya, who deserves it.

What do you think?

2010-02-01T05:59:00.000-08:00

January 31, 2010 -- Aboriginals: Art of the First Person, doing business on the Web at http://www.tribalworks.com is offering all its Australian Aboriginal art at 30% off through February 28, 2010.

The selection includes major dot paintings by renowned artists such as Gabriella Possum, Pansy Napangati, Eunice Napangardi and Janet Forrester; bark paintings by Djawida, Mardday, Maymuru and others; various Tiwi and Yirrkala carvings and various prints. All will be sold at 30% off the listed price.

To take advantage of the sale, buyers should visit the web site at http://www.tribalworks.com/Australian-Aboriginal-art-buyers-guide.htm , use the secure, encrypted order form to place their order and enter the code “Insider” in the item description area. Reductions of 30% will be taken from the listed price upon completion of the sale.

All items are authentic, guaranteed and returnable within 30 days if they do not satisfy the purchaser’s expectation. These are works of fine art and folk art that the owners of Aboriginals Gallery have cherry-picked over the last 30 years. They were previously on display in the Sanibel Island gallery shop, which has been closed.

Shipping charges will be negotiated prior to sale based on the destination and mode of transport desired by the buyer.

William Ernest Waites, owner of Aboriginals Gallery, stated, “We regret having to dispose of these beautiful items, which we have painstakingly collected during trips to Australia. This is a great opportunity for Australian buyers, however, as the Australian dollar has strengthened to the point it is almost at parity with the US dollar.”

Susanne Waites, co-owner, added, “All of these works carry with them strong and happy memories for us. We hope we can find good homes for them.”

TribalWorks.com trades exclusively on the web or in Fort Myers, FL by appointment only. Call 1-800-305-0185 with questions.

Aboriginals: Art of the First Person also operates websites at http://www.ZuniLink.com, http://www.Native-JewelryLink.com and http://www.Native-PotteryLink.com

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Turquoise is in...but for how long?

2010-01-05T09:55:00.000-08:00

According to McClatchy News Service (January 2, 2010), “decoristas” have determined that 2010 will be the year of the color turquoise in home décor. Pardon my skepticism. I remember when lime green was the color of choice in modern appliances, followed by goldenrod yellow. Those colors on appliances now are a pretty good indicator that the 50s was the last time a kitchen was updated. Perhaps turquoise will do better, and have a lifespan somewhat longer than that of a donut in a squad room.

Anyway, if the color turquoise is in, how much more “in” will actual turquoise jewelry be?” Based on its history, turquoise stones will be popular and beautiful for centuries.

We’ve long known that turquoise is a special substance. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) describes the color as “robin’s egg blue”. But the stone is much more versatile. It presents in shades of dark blue to greens. It is often at its most attractive when it shows threads of matrix or variations within a single specimen from blue to green.

The earliest uses of turquoise have been traced back to Egypt at the time of the Pharoahs. The USGS also believes that turquoise has been used by Native Americans and Indian tribes in Mexico since 200 B.C. Many cultures believed turquoise had special curative and protective qualities, indicated by changing color if the wearer became ill.

In the American Southwest, the ruins of Chaco Canyon, believed to be the center of massive pre-historic trade route, have revealed extensive evidence of turquoise specimens and nuggets. Turquoise has since found its way in to Native American jewelery as cabochons set in sterling silver and gold, in complex inlays, and as nuggets and heishi in pueblo creations.

It is clearly the most important gemstone used in American Indian rings, bracelets, necklaces, pins, earrings and pendants. It is often combined with other attractive substances such coral, shell, lapis lazuli, sugilite, mother of pearl and opal.

Mines in the American Southwest have been a source of turquoise used by these and other American artists and craftspeople. Despite its origin in large, early deposits in Persia and China, most of the best quality turquoise today is mined in the United States.

Where did the name turquoise come from? Some believe it was so named because Turkey, while not a producer of turquoise, was an important transit point for turquoise on its way to European markets. For the record. chemically, turquoise is a hydrous phosphate of copper and aluminum.

Turquoise also has played an important role in fetish carvings created by Zuni Pueblo Indians, as part of their belief system. Today, it often is used to create the charming animal carvings that simulate true fetishes and are sold to a growing body of avid collectors.

In finer grades, turquoise has been highly valued as an ornamental stone for centuries. In recent times, the value of turquoise has been somewhat undercut by treatments, imitations, and synthetics.

Native American carvers and jewelers will use any good grade of turquoise, although they may prefer that which is mined locally. A bigger problem for American Indian artisans is the influx of imported imitations that are not actually turquoise and therefore can sell for significantly less in jewelry that purports to be “real.”

It is enough of a threat to Native American culture and livelihood that the Federal government passed a law, the Indian Arts & Crafts Act, requiring all imported jewelry to carry a tag or sticker identifying its country of origin. Attempts to pass off imports as authentic Native American work are against the law and punishable by fines.

Unfortunately, enforcement of the law does not rise very high on the priorities of Federal agents and, therefore, the incidence of violation is high. The Indian Arts & Crafts Association (IACA) was formed by Native American artists, and those who collect and sell their work, to support enforcement of the law. Members are required not to represent any products as Native American-made if they are not in fact made by American Indians. Aboriginals is a member of longstanding in the IACA.

As an aside, turquoise is traditionally considered the birthstone for those born in December.

As phosphate, turquoise is fragile by nature and sensitive to attacks on its finish and color from various solvents; perfumes and cosmetic solutions. Skin oils and cleaning fluids will also take their toll.

Keep your turquoise out of prolonged direct sunlight to void discoloration or dehydration of the material.
If you are applying cosmetics, sunscreen or hair spray, do so before putting on turquoise jewelery.
After use, turquoise should be gently cleaned with a soft cloth. This will avoid the accumulation of foreign material on the stones and settings.
Store turquoise gems in their own containers to avoid harder gems scratching them. But it is best not to store turquoise in airtight containers. It benefits from being able to “breathe”.

For more information about turquoise and to follow the online conversations of those who mine, cut and collect American turquoise, visit Americanturquoisemines@yahoogroups.com

Regardless of the year, turquoise will enrich your life with beauty as jewelry or carvings. Aboriginals: Art of the First Person offers numerous examples of this beauty on its web sites at Native-JewelryLink.com and Zunilink.com. You’re invited to visit and see for yourself.

Just a Holiday Wish

2009-12-23T05:59:00.000-08:00

Two days before Christmas day, the post office tells us it is too late to deliver, even overnight, before Christmas Morning. Therefore our web sites at Native-JewelryLink, Native-PotteryLink, TribalWorks and ZuniLink are unable to fulfill Christmas gift orders in a timely way.

So, this is a perfect time simply to wish all of our loyal customers and readers a Merry Christmas and a New Year filled witth happiness and prosperity.

Thank you for spending this year with us. We hope you will come back and see us in 2010.

Susanne and William Waites

Indians Dance at Native American Art Show in Cape Coral, FL

2009-12-18T12:06:00.000-08:00

About a week ago, with our continuing interest in Native American art, as evidenced at our web sites (ZuniLink, Native American jewelry, Native American pottery and TribalWorks), we spent an afternoon at a Native American art show in Cape Coral, Florida. We were attracted to some degree by the incongruity of Native American art in this venue. Nevertheless, it was a satisfying experience.

We encountered a Native American artist, Susie Longhair, Cocopah, that we had not met before. We were struck by the ingenuity and attractiveness of her jewelry creations. We posted about it a few days back and included some photos of items we acquired.

This posting, however, is about dancing that was demonstrated by Native American Indians present at the show. The dance presentation included some instructive narrative about the dances, some of which we were able to capture on video. But, given the limited recording time available on the video camera, we chose to concentrate on the dances. So here they are:

For another look at aspects of Native American culture, visit our web sites at Native-JewelryLink.com for examples of expert Native American jewelry, Native-PotteryLink.com for examples of beautifully created Pueblo and other Indian pots, and ZuniLink.com for fetish carvings by Zuni and other Native peoples. Thank you.

Australian government to implement Resale Royalty Rights for visual artists.

2009-12-18T11:28:00.000-08:00

(William & Susanne Waites, proprietors of Aboriginals: Art of the First Person, report on news and events influencing the tribal art market.)

In legislation passed this November, the Australian Parliament has created a law that will require payment of a royalty of 5% of the resale price of a work of art to the artist, if still living, or to the artist's estate for seventy years following the artist's death.

There are conditions, but profitability is not one of them. If a gallery (or private owner, one presumes) sells the art for less than was paid for it, a 5% royalty still must be paid. At this point, the royalty is only payable on a sale exceeding $1,000.

We have commented earlier, when this law was being vetted, our concern that the unintended consequences of the law will be more damaging than the benefits, if any.

For example, if a gallery is required to pay 5% of the sale price of work that they may lose money on, how eager will they be to purchase art by unknown or emerging artists? Will this stunt the market for those without establish reputations?

Will the market see and automatic increase in pricing of more than 5% to cover the cost of the royalty? Will this also have a depressing effect on the art market?

Will this external market control, as with many well-intended moves, end up doing damage to the interests of the artists it seeks to protect?

Fortunately, all of the Australian Aboriginal works in our inventory at http://www.tribalworks.com/Australian-Aboriginal-art-buyers-guide.htm
are exempt until they are sold in the Australian market a second time.

You could consider it a 5% discount.

Two More Days of Free Shipping

2009-12-15T04:18:00.000-08:00

Since we understand from the USPS that they still can deliver priority packages by Christmas if they are mailed no later than December 17, we have extended our free shipping offer until the close of Post Office business on 12/17.

This offer extends to any jewelry or fetish carving shipped by USPS Priority to any point in the US. We may be able to apply it to other items from our other web sites at TribalWorks and Native-PotteryLink too. Ask us.

Finally, if you are absolutely desperate and still have not ordered by December 22, all is not lost. FedEx is available for over night delivery. It is not free and it is a little on the expensive side. But it will get there in time.

We just sent an item via FedEx to a member of the military who is about to deploy, so overnight delivery was an absolute must. We were happy to pitch in and share the cost of the shipping as a our small way of saying "thank you" to the defenders of our freedom.

May your holidays be shiny and bright, like the Native American jewelry we offer, and your New Year be filled with healing, like the Zuni fetishes we sell.

Susanne and William

A Pleasure to meet a NEW Native American artist.

2009-12-13T15:28:00.000-08:00

One of the great treats of this vocation/avocation is the opportunity to meet new artists. It is especially rewarding when you do so in unexpected places.

We decided to go the the Native American art show in Cape Coral, FL. It is the next town over from us and we were curious about what kind of a crowd and exhibitors it would attract.

The crowd was small, but enthusiastic on a beautiful, cool Florida day. There were Indian dancers. I shot a video of some of the action. It will be posted here shortly.

First, however, I want to introduce you to the work of an artist we met for the first time at this event.

Her name is Suzie Longhair. She is a Cocopah Indian, which describes as a tribe related to the Maricopa. Her ancestral home is in Arizona.

We were struck by her work in a genre we had not seen before. She gathers shells and beads and other found items into works of Native American jewelry art.

They are hand-sewn to pieces of fabric with pin mechanisms and hooks so that the may be worn as pins or attached to chain or string as pendant.

Here are four that we picked up to offer to you.This one is a slice of brown-tinged ammonite surrounded by beads
in complimentary purples. It has both a pin and a pendant loop
attached to the fabric back. The size is 2" x 2 1/2".
It will be $135 when it gets posted to our web site.
If you purchase it here, it's yours for $115.

This one is a bit eclectic, combining as it does a replica of an
African mask with complimentary shells and beads.
The size is 2 3/4" x 2 3/4". It will be $165
when it gets to our web site. Right now it is $150.

This one is predominantly golden in hue. (Sorry about the photo;
I can sendbetter if you request it.) It is 3 1/4" x 2 3/4"
and is done in the form of a butterfly.Once it gets
to the web site it will be $155. Buy it now for $140.

Perhaps the most striking is the ultra-elegant dragonfly done
in all black beads and bits. The dragonfly is highly revered
in native culture as a harbinger of rain. This pin/pendant
will be $125. An early bird will get the dragonfly for $110.

Bonus time: Each of these unique creations comes with complimentary-colored fabric pouch to keep it safe in a jewelry drawer. No extra charge.

If you are interested, don't delay. These are the only ones we have of these. And we can still get one to you by Christmas if you act now.

Two days left for free shipping

2009-12-13T07:21:00.000-08:00

We will ship any purchase from our ZuniLink and Native American jewelry sites free via USPS Priority to any point in the US.

Priority will have it to you in time for holiday giving.

Of course, if the person who receives your gift wants to return it, we will accept returns through January 3, 2010. No questions asked. All we do ask is that the item be in the same condition as it was shipped.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hannakuh and a prosperous New Year to all.

The online addresses again:

http://www.ZuniLInk.com for outstanding fetish and other carvings by Zuni Indians and other Native Americans and

http://www.Native-JewelryLink.com for Native American Indian jewelry that is certain to please a flatter any recipient.

Gold! in Native American tribal art jewelry!!

2009-12-05T11:08:00.000-08:00

I last wrote about Native American jewelry in gold back when that precious metal was less than $800 an ounce. Even then, I pointed out that this was a good time to buy gold jewelry from us because our prices had not increased at the pace of the replacement cost of gold.

I also recall talking with Artie Yellowhorse, a fabulous Navajo jewelrymaker who used to do a lot of work in gold (right). It was about three years ago. At that time, she said she was not doing anything more in gold. It had become too expensive for her.

We have not acquired anything made with gold - granted it is 14k, not pure (24k) - in several years. So all the gold and gold overlay pieces we offer had their prices set according to what we paid when gold was less than $800 per ounce.

An example is this exquisite 14k gold pendant (left) in the shape of a whale fluke, with inlay of opal. It includes a 14k gold chain.

Today gold is hovering just below $1,200 per ounce. All those television commercials selling gold bullion suggest it is going higher. But our prices are still where they were three years ago, when gold was much less expensive.

So we repeat our observation that this is a bargain time to buy gold and gold overlay jewelry from Native-JewelryLink. Just click on the link to go to our primary case for Native American gold jewelry.

By the way, we are offering free USPS Priority shipping for Christmas, with guaranteed pre-Christmas delivery, on any Native American jewelry order placed by December 15.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

The Perils of Paying - A Tribal Art Morality Tale.

2009-12-02T08:06:00.000-08:00

Aboriginals: Art of the First Person, host of Tribal Artery and web sites at ZuniLink, Native-JewelryLink, Native-PotteryLink and TribalWorks, regularly surveys the news-sphere to bring readers news of interest concerning the art world.

The Santa Fe New Mexican has reported on an IRS tax raid on a Santa Fe art gallery as part of an alleged tax investigation.

According to the New Mexican, numerous federal agents entered the Torres Gallery on Water Street and confiscated scores of works by gourd artist, Robert Rivera.

Buried in the story was an interesting report that federal agents took issue with whether or not some of the items confiscated were owned by the gallery, the result of gallery owners having paid for them, or were present in the gallery on consignment from the artist. In the latter case, they qualify as property of the artist, who appears to be the target of the action. In the former case, however, they would be the property of the gallery and not be subject to seizure in settlement of a tax judgment.

The gallery manager, Frank Quintanar, is reported as having said he had trouble convincing the federal agents that some items were paid for and, therefore belong to someone other than the artist.

The lessons to be learned from this?

If you are a gallery owner or dealer, retain all receipts or other proof of purchase in a place where it can be easily accessed. Visits from the authoritiea are seldom announced in advance.

If you are a collector, remove your purchase from the gallery or store premises immediately upon completing your purchase. You do not want to be caught in the middle between the government and an artist who may or may not be delinquent on tax payments.

Free Shipping of Native American art & jewelry

2009-11-23T13:25:00.000-08:00

As the year-end holidays roll towards us, many of you are thinking of what to give your favorite aunt or friend or even children. (We have one client who buys a new fetish carving for her son every year as a way of encouraging him to appreciate Native American art and culture and to get him into collecting.)

When you visit our web sites at ZuniLink and Native-JewelryLink, please keep in mind that we will pay for shipping to you or the person you are giving to, from now through December 15. Pre-Christmas delivery is guaranteed if we receive your paid order by December 15.

We also guarantee satisfaction through January 5 so that you or gift your receivers can change your minds about any piece you order.

We also will provide free shipping for most items of Arctic and Navajo folk art at TribalWorks. If you see something you like ask about our shipping policy for the Holidays. We will work with you.

Thank you and please have a grateful Thanksgiving.

Tribal Art: The New Felony?

2009-11-20T06:29:00.000-08:00

Did you know that the person who sells art to you could be a felon? Or you could be one for purchasing any art with a component of wood or plant fiber?

Yep.

According to provisions in the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, aka Public Law 110-246, an amendment to the Lacey Act that is included in the bill makes all wood a federally regulated, suspect substance.

To quote from the blog, Classical Values, “Either raw wood, lumber, or anything made of wood from tables and chairs, to flooring, siding, particle board, to handles on knives, baskets, chopsticks, or even toothpicks has to have a label naming the genus and species of tree that it came from and the country of origin. Incorrect labeling becomes a federal felony.” And the law applies to any wood product that is in interstate commerce within the country.

Here are excerpts from a summary of the law, once again as provided by Classical Values:

“Anyone who imports into the United States, or exports out of the United States, illegally harvested plants or products made from illegally harvested plants, including timber, as well as anyone who exports, transports, sells, receives, acquires or purchases such products in the United States, may be prosecuted.”

[…]

“Violations of the Lacey Act provisions for timber and other plant products, as well as fish and wildlife, may be prosecuted through either civil or criminal enforcement actions. Regardless of any prosecution, the tainted plants may be seized and forfeited.”

So, according to this law and this interpretation of it, anyone who sells you a wood carving, a basket, or an object of art with a wood component, such as a picture frame, and anyone who buys it, without a label as to genus and species of wood and country of origin, can be subject to prosecution of committing a felony. And you can be prosecuted for buying and having it.

Yes, there is a requirement that interstate commerce have been included. But almost everything we sell and own these days was involved in interstate commerce at one time or another.

While all would have to agree that the chances of anyone being prosecuted is remote, it is also true that once the Feds have you in their sights, they can and will use anything to get you. I recall hearing that they never could arrest Al Capone for anything, due to insufficient evidence, until they caught him with an open cigarette pack on which the federal tax stamp had not been destroyed.

Equally of concern is the possibility that materials can be confiscated and not returned, regardless of the outcome of any prosecution.

There have been recent stories of Federal agents raiding and confiscating collections of Native American tribal artifacts on the premise that the items were acquired illegally and in violation of Federal law. Granted, some pieces confiscated do fall under Federal prohibitions. At the same time, many pieces are confiscated that do not constitute contraband. These may be held for long periods, even indefinitely, during investigations.

Keep this in mind as you consider selling or purchasing any goods that fall within the purview of the Lacey Act as amended by Public Law 110-246.

Is anyone safe?

This report is provided by Aboriginals: Art of the First Person, online dealers in African, Australian and Native American tribal art.

We also offer Native American jewelry, Native American pottery and Native American stone carvings online.

Reviewing Aboriginal Art Shows

2009-11-14T11:46:00.000-08:00

In a recent blog at Aboriginal Art & Culture: an American Eye, Will Owen reviews two Aboriginal art shows in Washington, DC.

The Washington, DC shows were Australian Indigenous Art Triennial: Culture Warriors and Lands of Enchantment: Australian Aboriginal Paintings.

Owen's review dwells heavily on the hanging of the show, while spending some of his words also discussing the quality of the works presented.

Since we, unfortunately, have not been able to attend either show, we are not prepared to validate Owen's opinion of the presentation aspects of the shows.

But as fans, collectors and dealers of Australian Aboriginal art, we can enthusiastically share his passion for works that were hung, and his appreciation that shows focusing on Australian Aboriginal art even were made available to American audiences.

We encourage you to visit Owen's blog site (using the link above) to read his review, and, if you want to see more of this stimulating Australian Aboriginal art, to visit our website, http://www.TribalWorks.com/Australian-Aboriginal-art-buyers-guide.htm.

Thank you

Tribal Art Holiday Loyalty Sale - Starts Now. Save 25%

2009-10-24T12:17:00.000-07:00

Do I smell turkey roasting? Hmm.

Thanksgiving must be near.

That means it’s time for Aboriginals’ Annual Holiday Loyalty Sale.

From today through November 22, 2009, we are offering our loyal e-newsletter and this blog subscribers 25% off every purchase.

Give the love of your life a beautiful authentic Native American jewelry bracelet, pendant or other item of adornment at 75% below the regular price.

Save 25% on a beautiful Native American Pueblo pot, storyteller or Nativity set.

Any fetish collector in your circle will be gratefully impressed by a Zuni, Cochiti, San Felipe or Navajo carving.

Check out our extraordinary collection African tribal masks and carvings, charming Inuit items, make-you-smile Navajo folk art pieces and traditional tribal art by world-class Australian Aboriginal artists.

Everything on our websites is yours at 25% off the listed price. Just include this code – “Tribal 2009” - in your order. We’ll take the 25% off at “check-out”.

(We are not changing the listed prices on the web site because these discounts are available only to loyal subscribers and when the sale is over on November 23, the original prices will stand.)

Don’t wait too long. Choice items will go first. And we will need time to ship before Christmas.

Thank you for your loyalty.

ATADA Theft Alert - Native American jewelry

2009-10-23T12:03:00.000-07:00

The Antique Tribal Art Dealers Association has posted a new alert concerning thirty-five pieces of antique American Indian Jewelry stolen from a Tucson, Arizona gallery on October 15 2009.

A full report on the stolen pieces of Native American Indian jewelry can be accessed on the ATADA theft alert page, http://www.atada.org/theft.html#sublette2009.

ATADA issues these alerts and we at Native-JewelryLink.com forward them based on experience that widely publicizing the theft and the items involved makes it difficult for the thieves to fence or sell them. If the thieves attempt to sell the items, someone in the field may recognize one or more of the stolen pieces and report the thieves to the police.

It is a crime to possess stolen property. Note that there is no statute of limitations on stolen property in the USA. Let the buyer beware!

Go Pink for the Cure with this Pink Shell Native American necklace

2009-10-19T09:56:00.000-07:00

In support of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Aboriginals: Art of the First Person will donate 40% of the purchase price of this stunning sterling silver and pink shell Navajo necklace to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Organization's efforts to find a cure for breast cancer.

Adorn yourself or someone you love with this elegant choker-style necklace and Susanne Waites, proprietor of Aboriginals: Art of the First Person and operator of the web site, Native-JewelryLink will donate 40% of the purchase price to this worthwhile cause. The contribution will be made in the name of the purchaser.

When others notice your necklace you can use it as an opportunity extend awareness of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure efforts.

You can see an enlarged photo of this beautiful piece of authentic, Native American Navajo jewelry by clicking on the photo above.

Revisiting Australian Tiwi Aboriginal art

2009-10-10T06:12:00.000-07:00

An update on Tiwi art in Australia by William Ernest and Susanne Waites, owners of Aboriginals: Art of the First Person.

As you may know Susanne and I once lived in Australia, which was where we developed our love for tribal art. That affection started with the art of Australian Aborigines.

As our exposure increased and expanded, we traveled to many Aboriginal sites in the country. One of our favorites, to which we paid a repeat visit during our last travel to and through Australia, was the Tiwi Islands of Bathurst and Melville.

These two island, sitting where the Arafura Sea meets the Timor Sea, about 50 miles offshore from Darwin, NT, are unique even vs. Aboriginal communities elsewhere in Australia.

They have a different history and the inhabitants speak a different language. As a result, the art created by the Tiwi people has its own distinctive character.

Melville Island, the larger of the two is second only to Tasmania in area. Bathurst Island is smaller but in many respects more significant since it is home to Nguiu, site of an airport, and the most prominent of three Aboriginal Art Centres on the islands. A narrow strait, the Aspley Strait, separates the two islands.

The physical sensation of the Tiwi islands is one of pungent aromas, heavy humidity and a hot, jungle tropical quality. The smells of local flora hang heavy in the air. The sense of remoteness from the rest of the world and the rest of Australia is intensified by the surrounding stands of equatorial timber.

The Tiwi people are open, friendly and welcoming. They also are extraordinarily talented, creating paintings, prints, textile designs and ochre-painted sculptures rich with traditions of Tiwi mythology and ceremonies. An example is the striking work done on the Pukumani poles. These are carved from ironwood and decorated with designs from the Tiwi past. A common feature of the painting is the cross-hatching used to fill negative space. Another common design element is the circle, replicating symbols associated with Tiwi ceremonies such as the Pukumani and the Kulama.

The Pukumani is a mortuary cermony, carried out over several months following the death of a Tiwi person. Tiwi belief is that the dead person's spirit remains in the living world until it is released by the final Pukumani.

The tall and sturdy Pukumani poles are placed around the burial site. They require weeks of preparation including harvesting the logs, carving the intensely grained wood and painting ritual designs on the surface. Participants in Pukumani dance and sing around the grave and the posts.

When the ceremony is finished, the poles are left to decay, often capped by inverted bark baskets called tungas. These would have been used by the dead person during life to carry and contain food and water.

Tiwi art centres of Jilimara Arts & Crafts and Munupi Arts & Crafts, are located respectively at Milikapiti (Snake Bay) and Pirlangimpi (Garden Point) on Melville Island. Both centres are managed by coordinators assigned by the Australian government. Jilimara, which is Tiwi for "body painting" also refers to the designs painted in detail on the bodies of dancers and on the Pukumani poles. Munupi also became a center for large murals and panels an for making limited edition prints.

The third art centre is Tiwi Art and Design, near Nguiu. Tiwi Design is much more concerned with the creation of textiles designed with traditional Tiwi imagery. They find their way into silk-screened or hand-painted garments and fabrics.

All three art centres are joined in a consortium of collaboration and continuity. The old traditions of Tiwi art regularly meet the individual self-expression of younger artists. But the latter always respect the old, while extending imagery into new areas.

The days we spent on Bathurst and Melville Islands were among the most stumlating and satisfying experiences we encountered with Australian Aboriginal art. Now we learn that the traditions of Tiwi art that were displayed and celebrated this year at the Telstra Awards, Australia's recognition of outstanding Aboriginal art, have encouraged even further growth and development of art and artists at the Tiwi art centres.

For further information about Australian Aboriginal and Tiwi art, we recommend the following resources:

The Australian: "Creative Worlds Collide in Tiwi Art" Aboriginal Art Online Aboriginal Art & Culture : An American Eye Museum and Art Gallery Northern Territory

We also refer you to the Australian Aboriginal art pages at TribalWorks, our web site featuring a range of tribal art.

Tribal Art Theft Alert

2009-10-04T12:44:00.000-07:00

The Antique Tribal Art Dealers Asscociation has issued a new notice about stolen goods.

"A Zia Jar and a pair of American Indian Hi Top Mocs were stolen from a Santa Fe, NM
Gallery during the night of October 2, 2009. Photos and details of the stolen merchandise are posted at http://www.ATADA.org/theft.html#molloy2009.

Please check out the images posted on the Theft Alert Page and familiarize yourself with them so that you will be prepared if someone offers any of these for sale."

History proves that stolen items that receive wide publicity are almost impossible to sell. There is no statute of limitations on stolen property in the USA.

This notice is forwarded as a public service by Susanne and William Ernest Waites, dealers in tribal art and owners of web sites offering Native American Jewelry, American Pueblo Pottery, Zuni and other carvings and other African, Australian, Arctic and Native American tribal art.