History for Sale

Southwest Indian Art Fair

10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 2210 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 23

Arizona State Museum1013 E. University Blvd.

621-6302; statemuseum.arizona.edu

More than 200 Native American artists from across the Southwest will come together for a two-day celebration to showcase their art and the history of their ancestors. This annual one-stop shopping opportunity at the Arizona State Museum is a chance to meet the artists and discuss the cultural significance of their work. Visitors can purchase authentic, top-of-the-line artwork including baskets, pottery, jewelry, sculptures, textiles and katsina dolls. Tribes represented by the artists include the Acoma, Apache, Hopi, Laguna, Navajo, San Ildefonso, Tohono O'odham, Yaqui and Zuni. Adding to the celebration will be dance performances, traditional music, storytelling and Native cuisine. At the "Navajo learn about weaving tent," five generations of the Ornelas family will discuss techniques as well as the importance of weaving to their family and their culture. Between each performance, fashion designers from various tribes across the region will model their designs. "We get to see modern interpretations of ancient designs," said Darlene Lizarraga, the museum's director of marketing. Jody Folwell of Santa Clara Pueblo is this year's featured artist. "She is known as the matriarch of the avant-garde movement in Native pottery," Lizarraga said. Each vessel she makes is different in its own way whether by its color, size, style, structure or symbolism, Lizarraga said. "There's always that fear that the art forms are going to die out so this is one way of continuing the perpetuation," she said. Tickets for the art fair are $10 for adults. Students and children are admitted free. Advance tickets are available at statemuseum.arizona.edu.