By Biray Alsac
Arizona Daily Wildcat
February 19, 1998

Indian Art Fair focuses on tradition

Photo courtesy of Arizona State Museum. Arizona Daily Wildcat Fairgoers browse the goods at the 1996 Southwest Indian Art Fair.

Just in time for the Tucson Rodeo weekend, the Arizona State Museum will once again be hosting its annual Southwest Indian Art Fair on campus. The event, now in its fourth year, is regularly enticing the local and artistic communities, and attendance has increased with each year due to its popularity. This year, over 6,000 people are expected to be present during the festivities.

Every year, 75 artists are invited to display their work at the fair, located in front of the Arizona State Museum at the lawn on Park Avenue and University Boulevard. The theme of the fair is "Tradition and Innovation" - featured artists have been inspired by American Indian art forms such as jewelry, pottery and Kachina dolls, and were encouraged to develop and invent their own original styles.

Artists will be judged based on the quality of their work and on their ability to expand the horizon through aesthetics and invention. Twenty-one awards will be offered this year to the winners, ranging from cash prizes of $200 to $1000. Once all the awards are distributed, the public will have the chance to purchase the artwork over the weekend.

The largest award in the Southwest that recognizes the American Indian art forms is the Arizona State Museum's distinctive Centennial Award. This is given to a deserving artist every year in recognition of a superior contribution to American Indian art. Last year, Ed and Jennie Vicenti received the Centennial Award for their original Zuni jewelry. Together, their experimentation with stones such as turquoise, lapis azuli and sugilite earned them recognition in stores around Phoenix and Scottsdale.

The weekend will not only include a fantastic show of American Indian art to browse and purchase; traditional and contemporary music will fill up the atmosphere as well. Free talks, discussions and demonstrations by several American Indian artists will also be open to the public. Mary Lou Kokaly will be telling stories with her pottery; Robert Albert will display his Hopi Kachina dolls; Yaqui Pahkola Masks will be brought by Louis Valenzuela, as well as Alvin Thompson's Navajo Sandcast Jewelry. These artists will all be demonstrating and answering questions regarding their artwork. There will even be an opportunity to talk with the talented artists involved in the Tohono O'odham Basketweavers Organization.

"Students who want to learn about the American Indian arts are encouraged to come," says Bruce Hilpert of the Arizona State Museum, "because there aren't many opportunities to see so many artists represented in one fair in Tucson."

The Southwest Indian Art Fair is free and will be held Saturday, Feb. 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 22 from noon to 4 p.m. For more information about the weekend's events call the Arizona State Museum at 621-6302.