Native American art dazzles crowd

Cermonial opens: People walk past the Best of Show rug weaved by Grace Nez of Ganado inside the Red Rock Park Convention Center during the 86th annual Ceremonial Preview Night and Wine Tasting Wednesday evening. [Photo by Matt Hinshaw/Independent]

By Bill Donovan
Staff Writer

GALLUP — They came from all over the United States, and there were even a few from foreign countries.

And they all had one thing in mind – seeing what good deals they could find among the artwork placed in competition at this year’s Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial.

“There were times tonight when there were so many people crowded in here that you could hardly move,” said Jeri Poletto, who is marking her first year as Ceremonial director.

The largest crowd in recent years is also expected to bring record or near record sales for the Ceremonial’s preview night when the public got its first chance to see this year’s winners up close and personal. Sales figures are expected to be released sometime Thursday.

But for many of the buyers, collectors and just plain tourists who came, it was a chance to see what’s going on in the arts and crafts world and what new trends, if any, are cropping up.

A lot of attention was given to Grace Nez’s Best in Show Klagetoh rug, which dominated the rug wall by its size and beauty. Which is good since at $38,000 it was one of the highest priced objects in the exhibit hall.

Ron Budd, a buyer, and Allen Lipsey, a collector of bolo ties, were there. Both are from the Los Angeles area and both decided to come by the Ceremonial because they were in the area.

Budd purchased a unique bolo tie made by Dan Jackson. “I saw some of his work while I was in Albuquerque and decided I had to get one,” he said. Lipsky purchased a “really cute” key chain for his wife.

Although they said they had trouble finding Red Rock Park, both said the beauty of some of the objects at this year’s Ceremonial was worth it.

People also marveled at some of the youth entries which, in many cases, matched the beauty and quality of the adults. The top prize this year went to Shayne Ahidley, a Navajo, for a Navajo yei rug that was priced at $1,200.

Other winners in the Best in Class category and were:

• Baskets — Linda Hendrix, Tohono O’Odham;
• Tribal Arts — Rosanna Ghahati, Zuni;
• Metal smithing (jewelry) — Ron Belonie, Navajo;
• Kachinas — Jonathan Cordero, Hopi-Cochiti;
• Pottery — Donovan Toya, Jemez;,
• Lapidary — Ernest Benally, Navajo;
• Painting — John King, Navajo;
• Sculpture — R. H. Goodluck, Navajo.

Prices of the Best In Category pieces ranged anywhere from $1,200 for the Hendrix basket to $27,000 for the necklace and earrings made by Benally.

Joe Tanner, who is on the Ceremonial Association board and has been coming to the Ceremonial since 1962, said the artwork just seems to be getting better and better.

“This shows that Indian art is alive and well,” he said, adding that the “Ceremonial is a big reason for that.”

The Ceremonial also provides Gallup a chance to show its value in the Indian arts world, he said, since much of the Indian crafts that is sold worldwide comes through Gallup first.

But the arts and crafts preview wasn’t the only activity for people Wednesday night at the park. The public got their first chance to see the contestants for the Miss Ceremonial competition and got to vote on which one they thought was the most photogenic.

The wine tasting event also attracted a good crowd, Poletto said.

How good? Well, the sponsors of the event brought what they thought was a lot of wine and by the end of the night, they were selling out.

On Thursday, the crowds are expected to show up for the afternoon dance performance and the senior rodeo that night.

Hundreds of people are also expected to line the downtown streets Thursday night to enjoy the first of two parades the Ceremonial is presenting this year. That begins at 9 p.m. and goes through downtown and ends about 10:30.