If you’re planning a unique escapade this weekend, you might want to head to the 104th Santa Fe Indian Market. The event will showcase the craft of nearly 1,000 Native artists representing more than 200 tribal nations.
The free market runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday at the Santa Fe Plaza. Visitors can shop for jewelry, pottery, textiles, paintings, sculptures, and other original artwork directly from the artists who made them.
Milford Calamity is one of this year’s participating artists. The Navajo jewelry artist has crafted his own jewelry pieces for more than 16 years.
Calamity will bring his sand-cast jewelry to the market, including new pieces inspired by corn. He creates the designs by pressing or rolling corn cobs and husks into sand. He then uses the impressions to cast bolo ties, rings, and bracelets.
The artist said turquoise, silver, and corn carry deep cultural significance in Navajo traditions. He said turquoise is considered sacred and protective, while silver can symbolize protection, much like armor. People use corn pollen in prayers and offerings.
Calamity’s Journey to the Santa Fe Indian Market
Calamity began his craft in 2009 and initially sold his work at flea markets and powwows. He later progressed to competitive art shows, including the Santa Fe Indian Market. He said meeting artists in person gives buyers a chance to learn the meaning behind their work and understand how they create it.
“There’s going to be something for everyone, so you don’t have to be intimidated,” Calamity said. “There’s going to be pottery, paintings, and sculptures, and there’s going to be price points for everyone as well. It’s a good chance to learn about the piece, about the artist, and about what is authentic.”
The market also offers live performances, food vendors, cultural demonstrations, and family programming. The Southwestern Association for Indian Arts organizes the event.
Visitors can find Calamity’s work at booth WA W 401.
How Santa Fe Indian Market Began
Curious about the early beginnings of the renowned market? Santa Fe Indian Market started in 1922 under Museum of New Mexico director Edgar Lee Hewett and curator Kenneth Chapman. They sponsored the inaugural market, called the Southwest Indian Art Fair and Industrial Arts and Crafts Exposition.
The Museum of New Mexico and the School of American Research jointly arranged the art fair. The event was held indoors and included admission fees, as well as artists and traders participating in a judged art competition.
A panel of non-Natives judged the artworks. They also set prices and sold artworks to the public. Native artists did not interact directly with visitors at these early fairs. Today, those interactions have become one of the most popular aspects of the Indian Market.
Early Indian markets closely resembled the Southwest Pavilion display at the 1915 San Diego World’s Fair. The San Diego Fair featured an Indian Pueblo, cliff dwellings, and art-making demonstrations by San Ildefonso potters Maria and Julian Martinez. These displays introduced Southwest Native Americans and their creations to the world.
