Fests for the Wicked

You want art festivals? You've got art festivals

You too will jump for joy at the 92nd Indian Market. (Jordan L Hanson)

By Enrique Limón

Some of the city's top art festivals might be well over the hill, but with an influx of fresh faces on the cultural scene [Arts Valve, April 24: "New Kids on the Art Block"] , don't relegate them to RainbowVision just yet.
From the avant-garde to traditional, lowbrow to exquisite, here are your best bets:

Native Treasures Indian Arts Festival
Over 200 Native American artists handpicked by the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture come together, representing what organizers call "the best and brightest of the Indian art world." Budding participants are showcased in the fest's special "emerging artist" section.
May 25 and 26,  SF Convention Center (201 W Marcy St., 955-6200); nativetreasures.org

Currents 2013
Railyard-centric cultural destinations team up with the CCA, the Institute of American Indian Arts and more to present the best in new media. Festivities include an opening at El Museo Cultural, a workshop on the exploration of analog models at Warehouse 21, and "Fanta Se"—a celebration revolving around the opening of DeVargas Park.
June 14-30, locations vary. For full schedule visit: currentsnewmedia.org

ArtFest
The Santa Fe University of Art and Design presents their annual "celebration of creativity and innovation." Spread over three weeks, the multi-disciplinary festival also offers courses on everything from "alternative photographic process" to an intro to hip-hop.
July 8-24, SFUAD (1600 St. Michael's Drive, 473-6440); artfestsf.com

International Folk Art Market
Dying to get your hands on a one-of-a-kind looseneck turtle bobblehead or a Peruvian pan flute for that person who has everything? Look no further. IFAM is the largest folk art market on the globe, featuring more than 150 artists from 54 countries selling their wares.
July 12-14, Museum Hill (700 Camino Lejo, 992-7600); folkartmarket.org

Fine Arts & Crafts Guild Summer Shows
Created in 1965 with the mission of providing "quality marketing outlets for member artists and artisans," and "to generally provide for the increased well-being of artists and artisans in Northern New Mexico," the guild hosts several open-air shows throughout festival season that offer an alternative to the norm.
July 20-21 and September 28-29, Cathedral Park (at E Palace and Cathedral, 473-5590); artsandcraftsguild.org

Ohkay Owingeh Native American Artisan Show
Win big at the slots? Why not invest your earnings in a unique piece of art? Along with arts and crafts galore, attendees are treated to traditional pueblo dances accompanied by entrancing flutes, drums and traditional singers.
July 20-21, Ohkay Hotel Casino (68 Hwy. 291, 747-1668); ohkay.com

Traditional Spanish Market
Features traditional, handmade art from a bevy of Hispanic artists, as well as live music, dance, art demonstrations and yummy food. Now in its 62nd year, it has grown to be the nation's largest juried Spanish Market, and is responsible for attracting more than 70,000 visitors and collectors to town.  
July 26-28, SF Plaza (982-2226); spanishcolonialblog.org

Contemporary Hispanic Market
Held in tandem with its traditional counterpart, the market hosts some of the "most respected Hispanic artists currently creating art in New Mexico," and offers opportunities for enthusiasts—both established and casual—to expand their collections.
July 26-28, Along Lincoln Ave., downtown SF (296-2749); contemporaryhispanicmarket.com

Girls Inc. Arts & Crafts Show
The third-largest market on the Plaza, it includes 125 artists and vendors. Jonesing for some art or jewelry and wouldn't mind collecting some karmic brownie points along the way? Then adorn your walls (and yourself), and contribute to Girls Inc., a nonprofit that seeks to inspire and empower young women.
August 3-4, SF Plaza (982-2042); girlsincofsantafe.org

Whitehawk Antique Shows
The weekend kicks off with the 30th annual Ethnographic Art Show—which boasts 100-plus dealers of Pre-Columbian, African, Far East and other ethnographic art from around the world. Afterward, the Antique Indian Art Show takes over with a vast selection of jewelry, textiles and pottery from the Northwest Coast, Plains beadwork, and artifacts from the Western, Great Lakes and Woodland tribes.
August 8-13, SF Convention Center (201 W Marcy St., 992-8929); whitehawkshows.com

Indian Market
Now in its ninth decade, the granddaddy of them all is the gold standard of Santa Fe art markets. Attracting well over 150,000 visitors, Indian Market brings vendors from far and wide, and celebrates all aspects of Native American culture, with expertly curated satellite film, literature, fashion and music events.  
August 12-18, SF Plaza (983-5220); swaia.org

What arts-related summer events are you looking forward to the most?

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