Santa Fe International Folk Art Market

 

 

In a world of mass-production lines, standardized products, and chains of workers performing repetitive tasks, all is not lost.

The Santa Fe International Folk Art Market is the largest market of its kind in the world. Last year it attracted a crowd of more than 22,000 people as well as 132 artists from 50 different countries. What’s more, 70 new participants from around the globe will converge in New Mexico this July.

Many of the artists are well-known, yet others are merely simple villagers from developing countries. However, they all have a simple wish to present and keep alive the world’s traditional folk art.

“The work brought to the Santa Fe International Folk Art Market represents traditional art that often dates back hundreds or even thousands of years and reflects ancient iconography specific to its region. People are drawn to those traditional elements that tie the art back to its cultural roots,” Executive Director Charlene Cerny said in an email.

By embarking on the journey, the artists from developing countries are able to change their lives, breaking away from poverty with the sale of their art.

“Whatever you buy can change a life—since 90 percent of the sales go home with the artists and build schools, provide medical care, and allow them to continue working with dignity,” Ms. Cerny said.

Last year’s market generated more than $2 million in sales.

The Lila Handicraft women’s collective in a remote Pakistani village sold enough of their ralli quilts to build a new school. A market favorite, Janet Nkubana from Rwanda formed a cooperative making hand-woven Peace Baskets that are not only beautiful but also meaningful: The baskets are made by Hutu and Tutsi women.

“The Santa Fe International Folk Art Market is a vetted exhibition of multitalented artisans, each a master at his or her craft,” Ms. Cerny said.

The market nurtures unlikely partnerships that serve to create a message of peace and understanding. Artists from Israel and Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, as well as Tibetan and Chinese artists find a common ground in works of art.

“Folk Art is an important form of cultural preservation. When a marketgoer supports traditional crafts, they are also helping to preserve that culture.

“At a time when so much of what we consume is prepackaged and designed for us by corporations, folk art is fresh, handmade, and inspiring to own. It’s truly ‘the real thing.’ Many people who collect it are as involved with the meaning behind it as the beauty itself,” she said.

The Santa Fe International Folk Art Market will begin on the evening of July 8 and run through July 10. Based on the success of the market, a Folk Arts Week was established and will begin on July 3 with a special exhibit in the Gallery of Conscience at the Museum of International Folk Art.

There are special rates for hotels, and some restaurants will create menus featuring food from the different participating countries.

Visit www.folkartmarket.org for ticket prices and more details.