The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-12
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
Information Bureau
FREDERIC >. HAsKIN. Director.
Washington. ID. O.
REVIVING INDIAN ARTS

the southwest as souvenirs for the
/. folks back home are not just oddly
fashioned articles made to sell to east
erners. They represent the earliest
ar. and handcraft of the first Amer
leans, the aboriginal Indians who lived
in the southwest in the days OF the
prehistoric cave dwellings, nobody
knows how many centuries ago.
These arts of blanket weaving, pot
terry molding, silver hammering. bas-
kerry and beading have been handed
down from generation to generation.
Each tribe or pueblo has retained TO
a certain extent its distinctive type of
handiwork which Immediately identi-
flies the artist VA the product. 1t IS
common knowledge that the Navajo is
the premier blanket weaver, that the
Hopi makes the finest baskets and
that the Pueblo excels in pottery
making. Even among the several
pueblos the styles of pottery are easily
distinguished.
Indian arts are fast dying out in this
country. To effect a revival of the ma
tive arts and crafts and to encourage
the Indians to strive for the early per-
lection of their forefathers, a great
fair is to be held among the Indians
Of New Mexico and Arizona in Septem-
b. at the time of the 210th annual
fiesta of the city of the Holy Faith,
Santa Fe, New Mexico.
The Southwest Indian Fair and In
dustrial Arts and Crtfts Exhibition, as
it will be known, is the first of its
kind in that section of the country.
Local fairs have been held on reServa-
tions and there have been exhibitions
of Indian Fandiwork at county fairs,
but nothing of the scope and char
acter of this exhibition has ever been
held in the southwest.
The exhibition, which is primarily
for the Indians themselves, but Will
be an added attraction for the fiesta
as well. is being conducted by the
School of American Research and its
director, Edgar L. Hewett, and by the
Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce,
which is in charge of the annual fiesta
and historical pageant. Lansing b.
Bloom, a director of the state mr-
scum. IS tc be superintendent of ex-
hiblts.
Indiana Woman Provided Prizes.
The fair is the outgrowth of ideas
advanced several years ago by Miss
Rose Dugan Of Richmond, Ind, who
has interested herself in a practical
way in Indian handicraft. She has
rendered an endowment from the in
come of which some of the prizes for
the fair are derived. other trophies
have been offered by the Santa Fe
business men who are interested in
the development of the Indian arts
and industries.
THE objects of the exhibition are
given as the encouragement of ma
tive arts and crafts among the In
dians; to revive old arts and to keep
the arts of each tribe and pueblo as
distinct as possible; the establishment
and locating of markets for Indian
products; the securing of reasonab BILE
prices; authenticity of all handicraft
offered for sale, and protection of the
Indian in all his business dealings with
traders and buyers
All of the villages and reservations
in the southwest have been notified
Of the exhibition and are bustling with
preparations to send the best of their
produces and their craftsmen to the
big fair. Camping facilities for the
visiting Indians, many of whom will
ride their horses in, will be provided
In Santa Fe, and their valued handi-
work will be guarded in the state
armory there.
The entries of Pueblo pottery will
be among the largest at the fair, Du-
gan fund prizes having been offered
for the best individual exhibit from
each pueblo and a grand prize for the
best of all. The following puebIos
will enter exhibits of pottery: San
Juan, Santa Clara, San 1ldefonso,
TesuQue, Santo Domingo, Cochiti. san
Feiips, Santa Ana, Zia, Jemez, Sandia,
Isleta, Begunai Acoma, Zuni and Hopi.
The exhibit room will not resemble
a museum with its articles on display
under glass, nor a country fair with
tables covered with tagged wares. The
Indians themselves will be present in
costume to display their own handi-
work. That is a feature of the COM
petitive regulations. The Nava 10
blanket weaver must be present in
native working apparel and with his
working loom in order to enter his ex-
hibits. The Indian textile workers
must wear their garments made of
hOnIespun wool and native dyes, and
the silversmith must bring the tools
of his trade and must dress in native
ErVaa when he shows his cnl1PPfinn nj
rings, bracelets and belts. The Mes
calero Apache basket maker must
wear his customary habit when he
brings in his collection of baskets.
Three pieces of pottery and a dozen
baskets are usually required for each
single exhibit.
Encouraging Indian Artists.
The Indian artists who have come
into prominence in the art world of
late will be given an opportunity to
Prizes will be offered for he best
drawings in pencil, pen and INK or
wa er colors of Indian dances, cere-
monials. games or occupations. Draw
ingS of pottery designs will also be en-
tered. Prizes will be offered for these
in order to interest the school pupils,
particularly the girls in the study and
use of the decorative art of their own
widely adapted by the white people
for stencil decorations on garments
and household linens.
Indian dancing is considered among
the arts of the exhibit. A trophy will
be awarded to the group of not less
than twenty from any tribe which,
performs the best ana most artistic
ceremonial dance. Judging will be
made on elaborateness of costume and
perfection of the music, singing and
rhythm. The dances will be given be-
fore the fiesta audiences as a part of
the program which each year includes
several rare and beautiful aboriginal
dances.
Babies are to be classed with the