18th annual Southwest Indian Art Fair is February 19 and 20
Southern Arizona’s Premier Indian Art Show & Market Features 200+ Artists, Performers, Demonstrators
TUSCON, Ariz. – After a year’s hiatus, the Southwest Indian Art Fair, southern Arizona’s premier Indian art show and market, is back stronger than before on Arizona State Museum’s front lawn.
For those who appreciate top-quality Indian art, Arizona State Museum’s Southwest Indian Art Fair means one-stop shopping.
Rather than trekking across the region to seek out treasures, 200 fine artists will be right here in Tucson!
The serious collector, casual buyer, or first-time visitor will find much to experience, learn, and enjoy.
There’s something for everyone, at every price range and at every interest level.
As always, visitors can chat with the artists, learn from Native experts, watch demonstrations, sample Native foods, and enjoy musical performances.
In addition, this year, Native films have been added to the art fair with screenings that celebrate outstanding works by Native American filmmakers and adding some evening entertainment to the two-day event.
As the name clearly states, the Southwest Indian Art Fair is a celebration of Indian arts. People think immediately of pottery, baskets, and jewelry, but they should also think of film.
After all, movie making is nothing if not storytelling and the strong and vibrant oral traditions of Native peoples are world renowned.
According to Elizabeth Weatherford, director of the Film and Video Center at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, Native American film is seeing remarkable professional success with the newest forms of digital technology imaginatively used for speed, quality, and interesting effects.
New media has enabled the explosion of Native American short works in the past few years. It seems that the short film genre has become a particularly strong part of Native American film.
This year at the Sundance Film Festival the “Native Shorts” program was part of the well-attended screenings. The works are not only rich in story, but show skill in photography and editing. These new works share a wealth of viewpoints that deepen our appreciation of their craft and of their cultures.
The Native Eyes Film Showcase is in its sixth year. This is the first year it is being held in conjunction with Arizona State Museum’s Southwest Indian Art Fair.
The Native Eyes Film Showcase is a program of Arizona State Museum and UA Hanson Film Institute, and co-presented with the Film and Video Center of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian.
The 18th annual Southwest Indian Art Fair Southern Arizona’s Premier Indian Art Show & Market is February 19 and 20, 2011 at Arizona State Museum on the University of Arizona campus, just inside the Main Gate 1013 E University Boulevard in Tucson. Hours are Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Sunday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.. Admission is $8 adults and $3 children 12–16 (children 11 and under free). Two-day passes: $12. UA and Pima CC students are free with school ID.
Event details and parking information online at statemuseum.arizona.edu/events/swiaf/