Cutline : John Torres Nez, president of IFAM, and Tailinh Agoyo, director of marketing, at the Railyard District in Santa Fe where IFAM will be held.
Santa Fe Indian Market challenged
Former members start competing market
By Katherine Saltzstein SANTA FE — Three Native Americans have resigned their positions with the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA) which puts on Santa Fe’s Indian Market to launch a new art market to be held the same weekend as Indian Market. Called the Indigenous Fine Art Market (IFAM), they say that it will be more responsive to the needs and ideas of the artists. In addition to artists’ booths, there will be a juried art show, films, stage shows, books, dances, and installations. The three organizers say they left SWAIA because of disagreements with some members of the board and because of financial shortages that resulted in a shortened work-week, reduction in pay and withdrawal of benefits to board members and staff. Indian Market, which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors and brings millions of dollars to Santa Fe and to artists, is considered the biggest market of its kind in the world. The three who resigned and organized the new market are: John Torres Nez, (Navajo) formerly Chief Operating officer of SWAIA resigned in March. He now is president of IFAM. When he announced his resignation, artists approached him asking him to start a new market. Tailinh Agoyo, (Narragansett/Blackfeet) formerly marketing director at SWAIA, is now director of marketing and creative services for IFAM and Paula Rivera, (Taos Pueblo) the former manager of Indian Market, assumes the title of director of program operations at IFAM. “SWAIA was not a healthy place for me,” Agoyo said, adding that she often felt “demeaned, bullied and disrespected” by some people on the SWAIA board. In fact, she filed a complaint about one member of the board. She also said that she couldn’t support her family with the cut-backs in pay and being put on a four-day week. SWAIA’s Indian Market is scheduled for August 18 - 24. IFAM will overlap Indian Market running from August 21 through August 23. IFAM will be held at the Santa Fe Railyard District, an area of art galleries, restaurants, parks and a farmer’s market within walking distance of the Santa Fe Plaza where Indian Market has been held for more than ninety years. The Railyard dates back to the 1880s when trains arrived at the depot there. These days, the Railrunner, a commuter train, pulls into the depot from Albuquerque. John Paul Rangel, (who said he is not a member of a recognized tribe but claims Apache/Navajo/ Spanish-Mestizo heritage) was recently appointed director of public relations and marketing for SWAIA. He responded by telephone to complaints about SWAIA. “IFAM is not an issue for us. We do not see it as competition,” Rangel said. “We support Native artists and their decisions. Other markets create opportunities for other artists. They get greater exposure and visibility. There is more opportunity for more income which helps families and communities. Our sole purpose is to support Native artists.” “We have a duty of putting on a show that people love and respect,” he added. The SWAIA board hired an outside organization to investigate and mediate the problems Agoyo said she had with some members, said Rangel. “They found no grounds for these allegations,” he said. “Focusing on the negative is wrong. Nine of the 13 members of the SWAIA board are Native. They are artists, lawyers and business people. They have a majority presence on the Board.” As to SWAIA’s financial problems, he said “SWAIA, like any other non-profit organization has shortfalls at certain times of the year. There are dips in funding, lows between January and March. That’s our leanest time of the year.” Putting staff on a four-day week “was one measure to try to deal with the financial shortages until a solution could be reached,” Rangel added. As to allegations that SWAIA does not listen to artists, Rangel replied “That’s an over-generalization and an over-simplification of a larger issue. Native artists are on the SWAIA board. They listen to people and they’re approachable. Artists can be involved. They can talk to the board or the staff. Why they do not needs to be addressed. Maybe in the past, they did not feel comfortable.” There is a Council of Artists as part of SWAIA but he agreed that they have not met often in recent years. “We want to bring it back,” he added. The effect of IFAM on SWAIA is not known yet, but Rangel said that booth fees have been paid by two-thirds of the artists originally signed up to show their artwork at Indian Market. “We need to support each other and not compete. They are our family and friends,” Rangel concluded.” I hope they are successful. They represent another opportunity. If they win, we win.” On a recent morning, Torres-Nez and Agoyo talked about IFAM at a Santa Fe coffee shop. They said they wanted to keep the conversation focused on the positive about the controversy and the markets. When Torres-Nez resigned from SWAIA, he announced his idea for IFAM on Facebook and more than 300 artists and others signed an on-line petition urging him to start a market run by Native Americans. Some said they felt exploited by SWAIA. Some Northern Plains artists and craftsmen said they often felt unwelcome at the Santa Fe Indian Market. Soon after the three organizers got together, they set up a website: Indigefam.org. It includes details and an application form for artists. Thousands of people have responded, Agoyo said. “At first we had 800 likes on Facebook, now there are thousands. We update it day and night and post videos, talking about what’s happening.” It will be “an artist-driven show, more responsive to the artists and their needs,” said Torres-Nez. Booth fees at IFAM’s market are less than booth fees at Indian Market. Some artists plan to have booths at both markets. Others have decided to withdraw from Indian Market and go to IFAM. There is a waiting list at SWAIA for artists who could not get into that market. Now, they can go to IFAM. IFAM will include all sorts of arts, they said along with stage performances, a juried art show, and books. Too often, artists are put in narrow categories when they often experiment with new ideas and new media. “We work not just with turquoise and silver, but with gold and sapphire,” said Torres-Nez. “There will be modern styles of weaving, maybe Star Wars imagery on pots. Native American art is much more diverse than what they think it is, and that’s what we’re here to celebrate.” “We wanted to move the show into the 21st century, to honor Native culture,” Agoyo added. “We had a clear vision. We want to represent Natives as they are today. “ She insists that IFAM will not compete with Indian Market. “It will be a different show, an alternative show, cool, hip and fresh,” she said. “There’s a lot of energy from the artists.” In the past, Agoyo said that she felt that artists were not consulted about Indian Market. “We are listening to them. SWAIA was not structured to listen. We embrace artists and their vision,” she said. She agreed with Rangel that SWAIA’s Council of Artists rarely met. Indian Market welcomed artists from all over the United States, but most are from the Southwest. The organizers of IFAM hope to increase the numbers of artists from around the US and the world. So far, applications have come from Hawaii, Canada, Alaska, and South Dakota, they said. “The response has been overwhelming. We’re working round the clock, talking to people, seeing what their needs are,” Agoyo said. “We’ve barely eaten; we’ve been working so hard. We’ve got three months, and a lot of work to do.” IFAM will also include programs aimed at introducing young people to Native arts. SWAIA had similar programs but was cutting back on them, said Agoyo. Asked if they have enough time to pull it together, Agoyo said. “The need is there. The momentum is there. We just went forward.” “We’re going to focus on the positive. Positive brings positive,” added Torres-Nez. As they walked outside to pose for pictures, Ross Chaney (Osage/Cherokee Nation), economic development specialist for the city of Santa Fe, strolled by and shook hands all around. “If anyone can do it this team can,” he said. “I’ve known them for years. They’ve been part of Indian Market. I know the quality of work they do. ” (Kate Saltzstein can be reached at salty223@aol.com) Copyright permission Native Sun News
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