2009: SWAIA Indian Market Blogger
July 14, 2009 - 2009 Santa Fe Indian MarketSWAIA would like to introduce Sam Haozous as its Official Indian Market Online Correspondent. Sam will be writing on all the latest news and events surrounding Indian Market from a candid insider's perspective. From inside the artist studios or the whirlwind of Indian Market events to exclusive after parties, you don't want to miss this hilarious and unapologetic all access view-as it happens- of the world's greatest Native Arts market. Sam will be begin writing regularly for our official SWAIA Blog and the Santa Fean Magazine Blog on July 7, 2009 and continue through Market. Sam's posts will also be available on his FacebookPage. We urge you to link, subscribe and tune in frequently to Sam's posts.
Sam: In his Own Words...
I am Sam Haozous, son of Bob Haozous, and grandson of Allan and Anna Marie Houser. I grew up in Santa Fe and remember the 1970's, 80's, and 90's Indian Markets quite well. After graduating from Santa Fe High, I spent 20 years on the west coast studying popular culture, art, and computer sciences. Among other things, I am a music producer and photographer. My personal interests include New Mexico history, Southwestern food, contemporary visual arts, loud music, tattoos, obscure secret organizations, really bad Sci-Fi movies, comic books, and of course Native American arts and culture. My current day job is as an office manager for the Scottish Rite Center in downtown Santa Fe; we do tours if you call first. I've had two gallery shows featuring my photography this year that are in no way relevant to the Southwest Style, but people seem to like my pictures.
SWAIA: Describe your past involvement with Indian Market?
I have attended Indian Market, with a few time gaps, yearly since 1973... I guess I'm old school. You may remember me as the punk kid with the green, blue, or bleach blond hair in the 1980's, 1990's, and (uh) early 2000's... For that matter, I may dye my hair blue this year too. When I was ten I won a ribbon in the youth artist's category for that year's Indian Market with a bronze sculpture I had created. I remember it being very exciting, but I was a shy child and didn't follow through in any subsequent year
SWAIA:In your opinion, how has Market changed?
Indian Market hasn't changed so much as it has had to adapt to the modern world If you had told me in the late 1970's that with the click of a key on a computer you would be able to examine some of the greatest art in the modern age, I wouldn't have believed it. Of course, I was ten then. Now the artists, collectors, and dealers are in an entirely new age where eBay can determine an artist's worth and online auctions by Christie's bring thousands of viewers without actually having to be there. Back in the day - I hate that phrase - collectors and artists actually got to know each other while doing business. Those relationships are diminishing as we go along with the flow of time. Having a MySpace presence or professionally designed website storefront is quickly becoming the way of the artist and dealer landscape. While inevitable, this is a sad loss to some of the older artists and collectors who yearn for the simple humanity that comes with each yearly market. The other massive loss has been the degredation of the Indian Taco into the far less substantial Indian Cracker topped with salad as garnish. What's up with that, food vendors? A man's got to eat, not get teased by a $7 appetizer!
SWAIA: What do you find most compelling about Indian Market?
The artwork of Indian Market is always compelling, but personally I find the human interaction between the artists and tens of thousands of people attending to be much more interesting than the sales aspect. Additionally, the unique fashions of the people who come into our fair city to do the high end shopping are appalling. Will the teenagers be wearing the latest black metal faux rap corporate t-shirts in an attempt to be different? Which contemporary artist's artwork will mock an established non-native "established" artist's work, and will it win an award? Which nouveau-riche collector thinks that "haggling" is acceptable? Every year the tongues wag and that's part of the fun.
SWAIA:What can we expect from your posts?
I hope people find my posts humorous and insightful in a way that may only have been available by an insider to the Market. Consider the fact that not only am I an insider, I've also got the native humor down, so if a tourist asks me directions and I point with my lips... deal with it.
Have a Tip for Sam?
Email Sam at samhaozous@yahoo.com