Native Arts and Cultures Foundation’s (NACF) Director of Programs, Francene Blythe, attended The Southwest Association for Indian Arts 97th Annual Santa Fe Indian Market earlier this month. She took the opportunity to meet and catch up with several of our current and past fellows who were exhibiting or participating in events such as the ones listed below:

Art Talk: Disrupting the Mainstream : Indigeneity in the Art World
Melissa Cody, 2018 NACF National Artist Fellow brought a new generation of creativity and thought to the traditional art of Navajo rug weaving at Indian Market this year. At the Art Talk: Disrupting the Mainstream: Indigeneity in the Art World this past weekend Cody discussed how she pushes rug design forward while maintaining traditional design elements. However, these traditions can be a misnomer, because traditional designs were also influenced by the market needs of trading posts who supplied the railroad industry, mining, the army, and tourists.

ARTIST TALK: Flex Your Activism with Cannupa Hanska Luger
Artist and 2017 NACF National Artist Fellow, Cannupa Hanska Luger, created an art installation through social engagement in collaboration with photographer Kali Spitzer titled Every One. Luger created a “how to” video for participants to make the beads needed for the project. Hundreds responded and mailed their clay beads to the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture bringing communities together to increase awareness of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Queer & Trans (MMIWQT). Over four thousand handmade beads were then hung in the image of a woman to represent the missing and murdered indigenous women and girls in Canada. Every One was supported in part by the NACF, to raise awareness of and to rehumanize the statistics of gender violence.

2018 Santa Fe Indian Market Gala and Fashion Show
A fundraiser for the Southwestern Association of Indian Arts (SWAIA) included a fashion show featuring the contemporary designs of 2017 NACF Mentor Artist, Delina White. Her designs are based on the woodland flora indigenous to the lands of the Great Lakes Nations. White uses contemporary woodland appliqué techniques to create completely unique clothing based on ancestral designs.
2018 Indian Market featured the work of many current and past NACF Fellows, including:
- Kelly Church, 2015 National Artist Fellow
- Melissa Cody, 2018 National Artist Fellow
- Jeremy Frey, 2014 National Artist Fellow
- Jason Garcia, 2018 Mentor Artist Fellow
- Luzene Hill, 2016 National Artist Fellow
- Ciara Lacy, 2018 National Artist Fellow
- Cannupa Hanska Luger, 2016 National Artist Fellow
- TahNibaa Naataanii, 2017 Mentor Artist Fellow
- Kevin Pourier, 2014 Upper Plains Fellow
- Cara Romero, 2017 Mentor Artist Fellow
- Theresa Secord, 2016 National Artist Fellow
- Lisa Telford, 2018 Mentor Artist Fellow
- Delina White, 2017 Mentor Artist Fellow
- Will Wilson, 2018 Mentor Artist Fellow
- Laura Wong-Whitebear, 2017 Mentor Artist Fellow
* Please note that this list is not exhaustive and only includes Fellows of which NACF has been made aware.