There was an Instagram meme that was circulating in April 2020 that read: “Everyone wash your hands so we can all go to Indian Market in August.”
Hopi carver Wayland Namingha holds up a carving he did for the 2019 market. Photo courtesy Gabriella Marks / SWAIA.
Of course, as we all know, the pandemic had other plans, and Santa Fe Indian Market was forced to abandon its in-person market for August 2020. SWAIA’s Virtual Market during that same month was a success, but it just made everyone miss Santa Fe’s streets even more. The saying is true: “Distance makes the heart grow fonder.”
Mavasta Honyouti, grouping of katsina figures
A model wearing designs by Decontie & Brown walks the catwalk at the 2019 show.
Well, after careful planning and a vigilant eye on health practices, Santa Fe Indian Market is back. Set for August 21 and 22 around the historic Santa Fe Plaza, the market will bring more than 500 artists who will be showing everything from exquisite jewelry and mind-bending basketry to exceptional weavings and paintings—and then everything in between.
“This will look and feel like the Santa Fe Indian Market you have come to expect,” says SWAIA executive director Kim Peone (Colville Confederated Tribes/Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians). “We want it to feel familiar, but also brand new in many ways. We are very excited.”
One of the big changes for the 2021 market is that it will be a ticketed event and the artist booths will be fenced together in downtown Santa Fe around the plaza. The reason for the change was twofold: Although New Mexico’s Covid vaccination rate is high, the pandemic is still an ongoing threat, especially to the vulnerable and unvaccinated, and secondly, a ticketed event will allow SWAIA to take some financial pressure off of the artists, many of whom haven’t shown at a public event in more than a year. “This market will allow us to take some costs off the artists, but also protect them by offering a more controlled environment to sell their work,” says Peone.
Although there are changes to this year’s event, SWAIA has been telling collectors to expect to see the same high-quality artwork from many of the best Native American artists working today. 
Grant Jonathan, Resilience, 2021, Tuscarora beaded bird whimsey, glass seedbeads, silk fabrics, satin bias tape and saw dust stuffing, 10½ x 6½ x 3½”. Photo by Kitty Leaken.
A street dancer performs at the 2019 market. Photo courtesy Gabriella Marks / SWAIA.
In addition to the artist booths, this year’s event will also present a number of fan-favorite festivities, including a live and silent auction, a gala, music and dancers on the plaza bandstand and the monumentally popular Indigenous Fashion Show. Many of the secondary events will take place at the nearby Santa Fe Community Convention Center, which will play host to the Best of Show Ceremony, fashion show and other activities.
For updates on the market, visitors are encouraged to visit www.swaia.org for updates. Visitors are also encouraged to become SWAIA members, which comes with several perks, including priority purchasing for many of the events. —
Santa Fe Art Market
When: August 21-22, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Best of Show Ceremony, Aug. 20, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Sneak Peak of Award-Winning
• Art + Silent Auction, Aug. 20, 2-4 p.m.
• General Preview of Award-Winning Art + Silent Auction, Aug. 20, 5-8:30 p.m.
• Market Stage & Dance Performances, Aug. 21-22, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Indian Market Gala Reception / Fashion Show Preview + Silent Auction, Aug. 21, 6-9 p.m.
• VIP Indigenous Fashion Show Pre-Party, Aug. 22, 1:30-3 p.m.
• Indigenous Fashion Show, Aug. 22, 3-4 p.m.
• Indigenous Fashion Trunk Show, Aug. 22, 4-5 p.m.
Where: Santa Fe Plaza and Santa Fe Community Convention Center, 201 W. Marcy Street, Santa Fe, NM 87501
Information: (505) 983-5220, www.swaia.org
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