Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-08-14
INDIAN ARTS TO
BE REVIVED BY
SANTA FE FAIR

The Indian "curios" picked up
by tourists in the southwest as
souvenirs for the folks back home
are not just oddly fashioned ar
ticles made to sell to curious
fasteners. They represent - the
earliest art and handcraft of the
first Americans, the aboriginal
Indians who lived in the south
west in the days of the prehis-
toric cave dwellings, nobody
knows how many centuries ago.
These arts of blanket weaving
pottery molding, silver hammer
ing, basketry and beading have
been handed down from genera
ton to generation. Each tribe
and pueblo has retained to a GER
tain extent it's distinctive type OF
~handiwork which Immediately
Identifies the artist with his pro-
duct. 1t is. common knowledge
that the Navajo is the premier
blanket weaver, that the Hop
makes the finest baskets and that
the Pueblo eXcels in pottery max
ing. Even among the several
Pueblos the style of pottery are
easily distinguished.
/ But Indian arts are dying out
in this country. To effect a re-
vival of the native arts and crafts
and to encourage the Indians to
strive for the early perfection OF
their ferefathers, a great fair is
to be held among the Indians of
New Mexico and Arizona in Sep
TENDER at the time of the Cloth
annual fiesta of the city of the
Holy Faith, Santa Fe, N. M.
The Southwest Indian Fair and
Industrial Arts and Crafts exhi-
bition, as it will be known, is the
first of its kind in that section of
the country. Local fairs have
been held on reservations and
there have been exhibitions of
Indian handiwork at county fairs,
but nothing of the scope and
character of this exhibition has
ever been held in the southwest.
The exhibition which is pri-
marily for the Indians themselves,
but will be an added attraction
for the fiesta as we'll, is being
conducted by the school of Ameri-
can 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 museum, is to be super
intendent Of exhibits.
Indiana Woman Interested
The fair is the outgrowth of
ideas advanced several years ago
by Miss Rose Dougan of Rich
mond, Ind, who has interested
herself in a practical way in In
dian handicraft. She has rendered
an endowment from the income
OF which some of the prizes for
the fair are derived. Other tro-
phies 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 native arts and crafts among
the Indians; to revive old arts
and to keep tho arts of each tribe
and pueblo as distinct as possi-
Bile; the establishment ana tocat-
ing or markets for Indian pro-
ducts; the securing of reasonable
prices; authenticity of all hardi
craft offered for sale and pyo-
lectlon to the Indian in all his,
business dealings with traders
and buyers"
All of the villages and reserva-
ions in the southwest have been
notified of the exhibition and are
oustling with preparations to send
ne best of their products and
heir craftsmen to the big fair
Iamping facilities for the visiting
indians, many of whom will ride
heir horses in, will be provided
n Santa Fe and their valued
landwork will be guarded in the
tate armory there.
me entries of pueblo pottery
VIII pc among the largest at the
AR, Dougan fund prizes having
oeen Offered for the best indivId- !
lai exhibit from each pueblo and /
grand prize for the best of ali |
me following pueblos will enter
exhibits Of pottery: San Juan, |
santa Clara, San Ildefonso, Tesu. |
Tue. Santo Domingo, Cochiti. San
Felipe, Santa Ana, zia, Jemez
.andia, Isleta. Laguna, Acoma
lunt and Hopi.
The big exhibit room will, not
esemble q museum with its ar.
icles on display under glass. or
country fair with spread tables
IL tagged wares. The indians
themselves will be present in cos
ume to display their own handi-
YORK. That is a feature of the
competition regulations. The Ma
'aIo blanket weaver must be
resent in native working appsreI
M with his working loom in or
Ter to enter his exhibits. The
indian textile workers must wear
neir garments made of home
pun wool and native dyes. and
ne silversmith must bring the
ools of his trade and dress in
ne native style when he shows
rs collection of rings, bracelets
no belts. The Mescalero Apache
asket maker must wear his Gus
omary habits when he brings in
rs collection of baskets. Three