The 91st birthday of Santa Fe Indian Market

It's August in Santa Fe, therefore it's Indian Market! For me, every year it's like a pilgrimage, a sacred day dedicated to all the wonderful Native artists from around the country. After 22 years of walking through the booths in and around the Plaza I enjoy finding my friends at the same spots and discovering their new creations and, at the same time, going back to the first visits when everything was so new to me!

Keri Ataumbi talking about her new ocean-inspired jewelry

With more energies than I have now, I was able to walk for two days, over and over, trying to read through each and every piece, learning about the works, the lands of origin, and how the artists were inspired to create their specific pieces. Pot after pot, katsina after katsina, not to mention all the jewelry...it was overwhelming!

Indian Market always falls on or near my birthday, another reason to be happy! We all get old, so let's celebrate!

Hard to find someone here!

The last few markets I was with clients. A different way to experience this event. Very intense with the talking and running around but also exciting to see how my guests react...and buy!

Last year...running to corral everybody!

This year I managed my calendar in order to have the market just for myself, and it worked out. What a morning: on the Plaza at 6.30 (the best time for several reasons: it's cool, it's fairly empty, and a lot of fun), most booths still waiting for the artists, a great breakfast at Plaza Restaurant at 9, then on the road again until 12.30. I will be back tomorrow to learn how the market went for my friends.

I have a game I like playing: spot the newcomers and buy what I think it's a new treasure! I'm happy to say that I discovered many such treasures who then became very famous!

This year was a bit different than usual: no drumming at the music stand, more tidy without the non-market vendors all over, easier to explore.

The creativity and the quality is stunning! I discovered new shapes, creative bracelets, fantastic beadwork...can't name everything. For sure, a high-quality market showing improvements in every aspect.

Arviso's booth, the most knowledgeable about turquoise

Pat Pruitt, the king of contemporary

What a treat to feel at home there.