982-4636 Jewelry, paintings and pottery by contemporary Native American artists will be on the auction block here, along with dinners donated by some of Santa Fe's finest restaurants. Other services, such as art appraisals, spa treatments or tax advice, are also offered. But the real reason this event attracts a crowd is the high-quality Indian art sold to benefit the museum, one of Santa Fe's favorite institutions. The Wheelwright is a small, private museum devoted to contemporary Indian art, and the auction is its main money-making event. The sale opens around 10 AM with a preview.
Patrons can enjoy lunch while they prepare to bid.
The auction audience gathers in a big tent on the museum grounds, usually the Thursday before Indian Market. 983-5220 Serious collectors and the curious flock to Santa Fe for this show and sale, always held the weekend following the third Thursday of the month. One of Santa Fe's most famous and popular events, the market features a wide selection of the finest American Indian art from 1,200 exhibitors. In 1997, Indian Market began a Fashion Showcase, a juried clothing show open to artists working in wearable art, sewing, weaving and beadwork. A youth market occupies nearby Cathedral Park.