Santa Fe Indian Market Brings Back Popular IM:EDGE Contemporary & Haute Couture Fashion Show

All forms of Native art celebrated at the world's largest, oldest and most prestigious Indian art fair

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Jul 31, 2018, 11:07 ET

SANTA FE, N.M., July 31, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Two highlights of the 97-year old Santa Fe Indian Market - the EDGE contemporary show (IM:EDGE) and Haute Couture Fashion Show - are returning for their fourth and fifth years, respectively. Both have become signature events for Indian Market and highly anticipated by market-goers.

"Nookimisjichaag odishiwed"(Grandmother's spirit visits the people) by Hillary Kempenich (Turtle Mountain Chippewa), IM:EDGE artist.

This year, IM:EDGE will be held in the lobby of the Santa Fe Community Convention Center. The show explores "Activism & Identity," and encourages artists to present ideas about social issues as well as those of personal and artistic identity. Works are for sale, and entry is free and open to the public. Visitors will have their first opportunity to preview IM:EDGE during the official Indian Market Kickoff Party on Thursday, August 16, from 7:00-10:00 p.m. The show will then be open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, August 18^th and 19^th during Indian Market.

This year's participating EDGE artists include: Avis Charley (Spirit Lake Dakota), Hillary Kempenich (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa), Heidi Brandow (Navajo and Native Hawaiian), Billy Hensley (Chickasaw Nation), Ashley Browning (Santa Clara Pueblo) and many others.

"Native art is constantly evolving - what was perhaps considered contemporary 50 years ago is seen as traditional now," said Ira Wilson (Navajo), Executive Director of SWAIA. "IM:EDGE provides a peek into what the future of our art forms has in store, and also gives artists another venue to express themselves."

The Haute Couture Fashion Show will also take place at the Convention Center, at 2:00pm on Sunday, August 19^th, and will serve as the culmination of the almost week-long Indian Market. This year's designers are: Cody Sanderson, Maya Stewart, Jamie Okuma & Keri Ataumbi, Sho Sho Esquiro, Decontie & Brown, Pam Baker, Yolonda Skelton, Adrian Standing Elk Pinnecoose and Shayne Watson. Opening the show this year will be Nakotah LaRance, the 2018 World Champion Hoop Dancer.

"This show highlights Indigenous fashion designers who look to their cultural past to create clothing, jewelry and accessories that embody the essence of ancestral memory while creating innovative designs representing the now," says Amber-Dawn Bear Robe (Siksika), who produces the fashion show for SWAIA. A video of last year's show can be seen and tickets for the event purchased at http://swaia.org/Indian_Market/Haute_Couture_Fashion_Show.

The 97th Santa Fe Indian Market is produced by SWAIA (the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts). It will take place on August 18^th and 19^th, 2018, with the participation of over 1,000 artists from more than 200 federally recognized tribes. A full schedule of Indian Market events can be found at santafeindianmarket.com.

SOURCE SWAIA/Santa Fe Indian Market