Santa Fe Indian Market Gallery: Modern Heritage

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Santa Fe Indian Market Gallery: Modern Heritage

Santa Fe, NM - "Modern Heritage," a new show at the Santa Fe Indian Market Gallery at Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casino, opens Wednesday, July 15 and runs through October 15, 2009. There will be a special reception during Indian Market, Thursday, August 20, 5-8 p.m.

"Modern Heritage" includes traditional works like Monte Claw's (Diné) dance fans, beadwork by his wife Kareen Claw (San Carlos Apache) and tufa-cast silver jewelry by husband and wife Steve LaRanch (Hopi) and Marian Denipah (Diné.) Tina Santiago (Coushatta) weaves pine-needle baskets and depicts Native subject matter using batik and classical painting. The flowing stone sculpture by Rollie Grandbois (Turtle Mountain Chippewa) is sensual and elegant.

"The average American thinks that Native cultures died way back when," says Santa Fe Indian Market Gallery Manager Celia Calloway Williams. "The material culture often opens a window into the fact that this is a living, growing thriving culture. They are living now; they are using contemporary tools. You don't use a pump drill anymore to make your beads."

One of the things that has made Indian Market so successful is for buyers to be able to meet the artists. The Santa Fe Indian Market Gallery, that has been open for less than a year, provides a place where it is possible to do that year-round with regular demonstrations and events with Native artists. When Santa Fe Indian Market artists aren't in the gallery, Williams and Arin McKenna provide firsthand knowledge and insight into the artists' work.

Modern Heritage artists are:
Rollie Grandbois, Turtle Mountain Chippewa, Sculpture
Estella Loretta, Jemez Pueblo, Sculpture
Nacona Burgess, Comanche, Paintings
Michelle Sisneros, Santa Clara Pueblo, Paintings
Tina Santiago, Coushatta, Paintings, baskets, batiks
Marian Denipah, Dine, Jewelry
Steve La Rance, Hopi, Jewelry
Albert Lee , Dine, Jewelry
Ryan Benally, Dine, Sculpture/jewelry
Marcus Amerman, Choctaw, Blown glass
Monty Claw, Dine', Traditional dance fans
Kareen Claw, San Carlos Apache, Beadwork
Delores Aragon, Acoma Pueblo, Pottery
Glenda Loretto, Jemez Pueblo, Jewelry
Deborah Box, Southern Ute, Beadwork/quillwork

The Santa Fe Indian Market Gallery is located at Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casino and represents the work from some of the 1,200 juried Indian Market artists. The gallery provides Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA) with a venue to unconditionally support established and emerging Native artists year round and promote Native art to Buffalo Thunder's clientele. Each of the gallery's four yearly exhibits features work by the Santa Fe Indian Market artists.

In addition to the Santa Fe Indian Market Gallery partnership, SWAIA and Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casino have entered into the second year of a three-year partnership. Buffalo Thunder became the first title sponsor for the Santa Fe Indian Market in its 88-year history. This three-year sponsorship is symbolic of the Pueblo of Pojoaque's commitment to Native American artistic expression and tradition. Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casino is Santa Fe's largest destination resort, brought to fruition by visionary Pojoaque Governor George Rivera, and features a Hilton resort and spa, restaurants, convention center, golf courses and casino.

Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casino's title sponsorship of Santa Fe Indian Market provides much needed support and will help pay for the planning and presentation of the 2009 Indian Market. This auspicious sponsorship also represents a mutually beneficial partnership that recognizes the centrality of the Santa Fe Indian Market to the Native fine arts movement.

WHAT: Modern Heritage, a show of Indian Market Artists
WHERE: Santa Fe Indian Market Gallery at Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casino, 30 Buffalo Thunder Trail, Santa Fe, NM
WHEN: "Modern Heritage" runs from July 15 to October 15, 2009, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
Indian Market Reception: Thursday, August 20, 2009, 5-8 p.m.
Free shuttle running between Buffalo Thunder and Poeh Museum's opening, also 5-8 p.m.
INFO: (505) 819-2245

www.buffalothunderresort.com/

INTERVIEWS AND IMAGES ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

Contact:
Jennifer Marshall
505-231-1776
jennifer@jmarshallplan.com
www.jmarshallplan.com