An award-winning Native artist is taking the reins of this summer's Indian Market.
Officials with the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts announced late Tuesday that its board of directors has hired Dallin Maybee as interim chief executive officer to replace John Torres Nez, who resigned from the job abruptly last month.
Maybee, who is Northern Arapaho and Seneca and holds degrees in both law and art, had been serving as the volunteer secretary for the SWAIA board. He's a beadworker who also creates ledger art and who won the prestigious "Best of Show" award in 2007 and other honors.
"I can't help but stress that Indian Market is happening," Maybee said at a press conference. "We are so excited as a board and a staff to be able to come together, despite some speed bumps, and just continue to plan what we have planned for 92 years."
As SWAIA prepares for the event that draws thousands of Native artists and collectors each August, several of its former staffers, including Torres Nez, are backing another market they say is set to take place the same weekend. Organizers of the Indigenous Fine Art Market said Monday they've secured the Santa Fe Railyard plaza and park as a venue for Thursday, Aug. 21 and Friday, Aug. 22 and might use the park that Saturday while the regularly scheduled farmers market occupies a large part of the Railyard open space.
Indian Market covers most of the downtown Plaza area and surrounding streets on Saturday and Sunday as well as a variety of events in the week before.
