Page 265 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Southwest USA & National Parks

SHOPPING IN THE SOUTHWEST  263

Native American are collectors’ items with prices
Arts and Crafts
to match, but you can also buy
Discovering the spiritual beliefs affordable works by contem­
that inspire Native arts and crafts porary artists such as Nancy
can make shopping for these Youngblood. She is repre sented
items a rewarding experience, by Andrea Fisher Fine Pottery.
especially when purchasing Artists in several of the Pueblo
directly from Native artists – communities north of Santa Fe
in their homes, at reservation welcome visitors at their home
trading posts, or in pueblo or workshops; look for signs
museum stores. The quality of outside. The Indian Pueblo
Native crafts can vary greatly, Cultural Center (see pp218–19)
and it is worth knowing a few in Albuquerque offers Pueblo
guidelines. The term “Indian Indian art at fair prices.
handmade” means that the item The Shiprock Santa Fe special­
has been made solely by Native izes in vintage and contemporary
Americans, while “Indian crafted” Native arts, including jewelry, Examples of fine turquoise jewelry made by
means that they have been pottery, sculpture, folk art, and the Navajo tribe
involved in the production. fine arts. You can also buy older
Buying directly from the artist pieces of Native American art at The Hopi Arts and Crafts
ensures authenticity and also Santa Fe’s Morning Star Gallery, Silvercraft Cooperative Guild,
gives money to the local Native set in a lovely old adobe house located on Second Mesa near
American community. on Canyon Road. Nambé the Cultural Center (see p170–71),
Many artists display their work Outlets features the signature produces fine silver jewelry. The
at tourist stops such as those at metal bowls and other artworks Native American market under
Canyon de Chelly or on reser­ from the Nambé Pueblo north the arcades of the Santa Fe Plaza
vations. Trading posts, such as of the city. At Chief Dodge (see pp196–7) is a fun place to
the Hubbell Trading Post (see Indian Jewelry and Fine Arts buy, with a range of prices and
p171) on the Navajo Reservation, in Scottsdale you can watch quality. Silver Sun specializes
were established to sell Native Native artists at work. in authentic handmade Native
products to the region’s first American jewelry and rare
tourists in the late 1800s. Jewelry collectible turquoise from
Other sources of good­quality the mines in Arizona, Nevada,
authentic items include, 50 miles Native American artists are Colorado, and New Mexico. In
(80 km) north of Flagstaff, the known for their fine jewelry, but Albuquerque, Tanner Chaney
Cameron Trading Post, which cheaply manufactured goods sells gold and silver jewelry with
now holds a gallery displaying abound in tourist areas, and it can gem­grade turquoise, coral, and
historic and modern rugs, pot­ be difficult to tell good­quality other precious stones.
tery, baskets, and carvings. Fifth natural turquoise from cheaper
Generation Trading Company grades or fakes. If you want a Museum Shops
in Farmington and Sewell’s special piece, visit Albuquerque’s
Indian Arts in Scottsdale also Turquoise Museum (see p216) to Wonderful and authentic Native
offer a wide choice of goods. learn the difference. High­quality artworks can also be found in
The distinctive pottery of the Indian­made jewelry can be the shops of many museums.
Pueblo Indian communities is expensive. Buy from a reputable In Phoenix, the Heard Museum
highly prized. Pieces by famous dealer who will give you a written (see pp82–3) has a selection
artists such as Maria Martinez guarantee of authenticity. of beautiful Native baskets,
paintings, sculpture, and kachina
dolls, as does Flagstaff’s Museum
of Northern Arizona (see p72). In
Santa Fe, the museum shop at
the Palace of the Governors (see
p198) has fine wood carvings
and Hispanic art. The re­created
trading post at the Wheelwright
Museum of the American
Indian (see p201) specializes in
traditional Navajo jewelry and
crafts. Top­quality Spanish
Colonial arts, furniture, and
weavings can be found at
markets organized by the
Museum of Spanish Colonial
Native American rugs in the Cameron Trading Post Art (see p201).

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