Heard Indian Market 2011 - Sheridan MacKnight

I had the great opportunity to meet the wonderful miss Sheridan MacKnight a few weekends ago at the Heard Indian Market. She is primarily a ledger artist, but she also creates these little (big) earrings. And they are badass. I bought a pair (I'm a sucker for earrings) and everyone who has seen me wear them, throws in a compliment ("wow, I like your earrings"). They are stunning. I think I have worn them almost everyday since I got them.

So, this is a special post - an homage to my new earrings.


(Me rockin' Sheridan MacKnight earrings surrounded by the artwork of America Meredith and Linda Lomahaftewa. March 2011. Heard Indian Market in downtown Phoenix. Photo by America Meredith)

Heard Indian Market 2011 - Penny Singer

Navajo fashion designer Penny Singer was in her usual booth space this year at the Heard Indian Market, and I had a couple minutes to catch up with her. She had a picture of one of her clients wearing a Penny Singer jacket to a dinner with President Obama. That's pretty badass. Another one of her clients was in the booth and remarked that she had seen the tv broadcast of the event, and saw the jacket and knew it was a Penny Singer. Double badass.


(Penny Singer, hold two pictures of one of her clients wearing an original Penny Singer jacket to an Obama event)





Penny Singer will also be at the Native Treasures show held annually in Santa Fe

Heard Indian Market 2011 - Craig Kelly

Artist Craig Kelly (Navajo) is a jeweler who creates 3-D work out of mixed media. He's won awards for his work and participates in the Santa Fe and Heard Indian Markets. Kelly incorporates unusual materials, such as carbon fibers or computer wiring, and beads a variety of subject matter (from skulls in film strips, to nudes, to tropical sunsets!), to create his jewelry designs. He grew up in Church Rock, NM and now lives in Albuquerque.

My favorite piece of his work was a large beaded gorget. It's a self-portrait and it's beautifully done. The colors are gorgeous. But another awesome piece was a beaded medallion of DJ Dead Mouse. Super cool! Kelly will also be at Native Treasures this year, held annually in Santa Fe. So I will definitely have to check out the Native Treasures show to see what new stuff he brings.

Scroll down to see images of Kelly's work. Doug Miles and I chatted with Kelly at his booth at the Heard:

Heard Indian Market 2011 - Pilar Agoyo

It's always fun to see what Pilar Agoyo has been up to with her fashion designs. Since she also works as a costume designer for films, her clothing designs bring a welcomed edginess to the Indian Market scene.

Agoyo also took home an Honorable Mention award for her coat, 'Whisper,' pictured above.

She brought some new shirts and some new purse designs this year (see below) - but I was super excited to see a black coat trimmed with lime green fur (it was still a work in progress - but it already looks badass).

Heard Indian Market 2011 - The Gaussoins

The Gaussoins: High Street Fashion Jewelry

As I was zipping around the booths at the Heard Indian Market, I came around the corner to see brothers Wayne Nez and David Gaussoin - two of Indian country's most avant-garde jewelry-makers.

The first thing out of my mouth was, "Where's the ribbons?!"

I was, of course, referring to the lack of blue ribbons (or any other color ribbons) on their table. I assumed they would have won something - an honorable mention at least. Come on.

David responded "We're too much for them Jessica! We're on the naughty list!"

But I'm biased. I've worked with the Gaussoins before (for MIAC's Native Couture II exhibit in Santa Fe). They were great to work with, and they know a surprisingly lot about the history of Native jewelry and fashion (I say 'surprisingly' because their jewelry seems so fresh - it departs greatly from the other Native jewelry that we have come to know - a.k.a. "Hello turquoise ring").

For my own selfish reasons, I hope they continue to show at the Heard Indian Market - I'm curious to see how many years it takes for the judges to catch up to them (Note: Excellence runs in the family - their mom is the amazing and award-wining jewelry-maker Connie Tsosie-Gaussoin).

The jewelry they brought with them to the Heard had a distinctive 'street vibe.' Not only did most of the pieces reference the street in some way, but they were also displayed on squares of black 'asphalt.' These guys are way ahead of the game. I mean, they totally just curated their booth space.

The piece they submitted to the jury for competition was an elaborate necklace made from the metal pieces that fall off of street-cleaners. You know those machines. They are loud and ugly, but the necklace is rather elegant and pretty, with long silver strips flowing away from the neck.

Other earrings, purse handles, and bracelets were cut from diamond plated steel. Another street reference, diamond plate is often used on stairs and catwalks in industrial settings (the added texture reduces the risk of slipping), but it is also used on the interior of ambulances and on the sides of firetrucks.

While they had many references to the street, their pieces are clearly high fashion - this stuff belongs on the runway.

Here are some images from their collection:







Check out their website at http://www.tsosie-gaussoin.com/.

Heard Indian Market 2011 - Indian Ink II

Indian Ink II

Thomas "Breeze" Marcus and Douglas Miles opened their co-curated show, Indian Ink II, during the Heard Indian Market weekend.

Indian Ink II was held at Pravus Gallery in downtown Phoenix and highlighted a number of emerging Native artists whose works "push out and ascend above the boundaries of stereotypical, traditional, and 'contemporary' Native American art." Almost every piece included in the show stuck with the black-and-white graphic palette, but there were a few well-placed punches of color (in particular, Melissa Cody's awesome Navajo weavings).

The opening reception featured a live collaborative mural installation by Marcus, Miles, and Lalo Cota. The opening was also catered by chef Mario (didn't catch his last name) who made gourmet Indian tacos and other delicious eats.

This post isn't directly related to fashion, but many of the Indian Ink artists collaborate to create Native streetwear, so they're definitely on my radar:


(Textiles by Melissa Cody)


(Art by Rebekah Miles)

(Mural in progress)


(Doug Miles)


(Rattles by Thomas Marcus)


(Razelle Benally and Thomas Marcus streaming live, and shot by Karl Duncan)


(Melissa Cody)


(Micah Wesley)


(Lalo Cota)


(Yatika Fields)

Heard Indian Market 2011 - Margaret Roach Wheeler

Margaret Roach Wheeler (Chickasaw/Choctaw) is one of my favorite artists to check in on at the Heard Indian Market. All of her garments are hand woven, and each year she brings a new style that she's been working on. You have to see her garments in person to appreciate the high-quality of the materials and her finely woven work is truly exceptional.

You can find her at all of the major Indian art markets, and she also teaches weaving workshops in various locations (last year she even went to England). She's also working on creating various Native fashion programs that she hopes to launch in either 2012 or 2013 (ah, the world of funding!). She's a delight to talk to, and it's clear that she's making her mark on the fashion and art worlds.

This year, she won a blue ribbon at the Heard Indian Market in the category Non-Traditional Attire for her 'Chickasaw Hunting Jacket':