Ira's Finds
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Fire, Stones, & the Brilliance of Love: A Conversation with Female Jewelers
A couple years ago, I put together a “Master Jewelers” panel and invited artists who I believed were some of the best and brightest, established and up-and-coming Native American jewelers. The line-up was amazing and the panel discussion we had yielded some great information and, more importantly, a lot of laughs. -
Keeping Picuris Pottery Alive: Bean Pot Cooking Demo with Therese Tohtsoni-Prudencio (Picuris)
“I’ve made it a life commitment to make micaceous pottery on a continuous basis. I’m trying to keep the pottery alive because that’s what our Pueblo is known for.” --Therese Tohtsoni-Prudencio (Picuris)
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Inside Santa Fe Indian Market
Inside Santa Fe Indian Market. We take you inside Market to meet the artists & see their incredible work!
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A Heart in the Loom
Native Art Expert, Ira Wilson (Diné) recalls the place he calls home, Teec Nos Pos, Arizona and the enlightening words is weaver grandmother told him, "This is where we’re from and how others know where we come from. Most importantly, shi yazh (my little one), you have to be right inside here to make all this work..."
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Interview with 2014 Santa Fe Indian Market Winner Gerald Lomaventema (Hopi)
On a recent buying trip to Hopi Ira got to sit down with 2014 Santa Fe Indian Market Winner Gerald Lomaventema for a one on one interview
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Car Trunk Confessions
In many native dialects there is no specific word for “love;” it is simply expressed by actions. What better way to express that emotion than to compose a song about it... -
Rarities and Realities
Why is Pueblo pottery becoming so hard to find? Shumakolowa store manager Ira Wilson discusses what he’s learned from visiting with Pueblo potters and the importance of passing on this historic art to a new generation. -
A Painting Pioneer: Bennie “Yellowman” Nelson
I had a chance catch up with A Painting Pioneer: Bennie “Yellowman” Nelson recently and here are a few excerpts from our conversation...
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Call me old fashioned…
In an age where we have immediate access to almost everything under the sun I still believe in keeping things real. I enjoy shutting the smart phone off and having a cup of coffee with an artist or visiting their studios and talking shop, offering a frybread and a cold drink from our restaurant to vendors that have traveled a great distance on an unforgiving desert highway to bring product directly to us. I love doing business on a handshake knowing it’s an honor to keep one’s word, plus, it keeps me honest. It’s an old school mentality that has helped me in so many ways concerning the business of Native American arts and crafts. It’s allowed me to gain a deeper respect for Native art as well as the artist. It’s a lot of work but it is also work I love to do. Don’t get me wrong, I think technology is a wondrous thing. I celebrate it every day streaming the Skints, checking the stats of my beloved Denver Broncos or posting shameless Facebook selfies. That said, I still believe all of us could benefit from slowing down a bit and taking time to admire and enjoy the beauty of all things.
