John Sabourin and his fellow NWT artists were well received at the recent Santa Fe Indian Market in New Mexico.
"A lot of people were really curious to hear that there were Canadians and Northern artists down there, so they came just to see us and what we had to sell," Sabourin said several weeks after returning home from the event. "They said my art was different from everyone elseSA国际影视传媒檚 down there. People came up and shook my hand and wanted to say congratulations. It was really good."
Organized by the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA), the market is among the most prestigious and widely-attended Indigenous art markets in the world. This year, the event ran on Aug. 18-19, and a small cohort of NWT artists were on hand.
That included Sabourin, a Yellowknife-based carver, and four others from around the territory. The group were flown south by NWT Arts, a division of the GNWT's Department of Industry, Tourism, Investment, and were joined on the trip by a group of five artists from the Yukon, who were supported by the Yukon First Nations Culture and Tourism Association.
"The artists were placed all together in Cathedral Park and had the opportunity to interact with thousands of potential consumers over the two-day market, sharing stories about their work, their inspiration and their lives in Northern Canada," said NWT Arts Program manager Johanna Tiemessen. "So many of the people they talked to were amazed at the style and quality of the fine craft pieces. Tuftings, for example, arenSA国际影视传媒檛 typically seen in southwestern fine craft, so this work stood out as unique and sought after."
Sabourin, who has been carving for about 30 years, stated that he often struggles to sell his art in Yellowknife.
"There's just not enough people buying carvings," he said.
That was certainly not the case in Santa Fe. The Liidli Kue First Nation member sold the bulk of the pieces he took south.
"I think I sold about three quarters of my art that I brought down," he said. "It was awesome. It was busy, but it was really good."
The Northern artists' work was so popular in Santa Fe that six members of the 10-person group received best of show medals, "which recognize the quality and best work at the market for that year," according to Tiemessen.
"These prestigious ribbons reward artists for the quality of their work and ensure they are recognized in the highest regard at the Santa Fe Indian Market," she said.
Now back home in Yellowknife, Sabourin will spend some time focusing on creating more art, but he hopes to attend other markets with NWT Arts in the not too distant future.
"Maybe next year, next summer," he said.
