Newcomer Regina Free (Chickasaw) took Best of Show at the Santa Fe Indian Market with her 3D sculpture of an American Bison, "Windswept."
SANTA FE, N.M.—In August, the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts hosted the Santa Fe Indian Market in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Advertised as the largest and most prestigious Indigenous art market in the world, the event celebrated it's 103rd year. The event annually brings together more than 1,000 Native artists representing more than 200 tribal nations from across the U.S. and Canada.
The three-day event features not only vendor booths, but other activities. A fundraising gala dinner and auction hosted by filmmaker/designer Steven Paul Judd featured Native cuisine. The SWAIA Native Fashion show on Sunday, Aug. 17, was the first to be co-produced by model/designer for House of Sutai Peshawn Bread, Comanche, who brought out top Native designers. And activities included screenings of the documentary film, "Jim Thorpe: Lit by Lightning," from director Chris Eyre.
A key highlight of the event is artists competing to win Best of Classification awards in a dozen categories, placed by 60 judges with the aid of 120 volunteers.
This year, the overall Best of Show award, which honors outstanding achievement in Native North American Art went to Regina Free (Chickasaw), a first-time entrant. She used many upcycling components, including foam, felt, paper towels, reclaimed driftwood, reclaimed railroad ties and scrap metal from her rural homestead to create a 24" x 48" x 8' mixed media 3D sculpture of an American bison, which she titled "Windswept." Her sculpture reflects the powerful nature of the American bison.
"I understand where they-the buffalo-live, the wind and the heat," Free said upon collecting her award. "I wanted him to project strength, resilience but calm, and so I wanted him to see that you are there but not care, because he does not have to."
Free's entry also won in Best of Classification in the sculpture category.
