Prescott Indian Art Market set for July 14-15

Navajo and Hopi artists, including five Navajo rug weavers, and musicians, dancers and singers on hand for annual event

PRESCOTT, Ariz. - Navajo and Hopi artists will be among those featured at the 15th annual Prescott Indian Art Market at Sharlot Hall Museum in Prescott July 14-15.

The shady museum gardens provide a backdrop for the display of Indian art. The market includes jewelry, ceramics, sculptures, paintings and hand-woven baskets and blankets,

Sandra Lynch, spokeswoman for Prescott Indian Art Market, said the highlights this year include five Navajo rug weavers and an amazing sand painter. American Indian artists serve as the judges of the artists who produce traditional and contemporary varying forms of artwork.

Lynch said in a news release the festival has grown in reputation and quality to become one of the southwest's premier Indian art markets. Visitors can spend time with the artists and observe the processes involved in creating their work. Indian demonstrators will weave baskets and rugs, carve kachina dolls and hammer silver.

Entertainment throughout the weekend will be in the outdoor amphitheater. Native American dancers, singers and musicians will perform. Navajo fry bread will be among the food and drink for sale.

Black Eagle, a Shoshone-Yokut will be the featured artist. His traditional and contemporary tribal artifacts and warrior spirit masks expresses his belief in the full circle of life and importance of living as part of nature. He uses native tanned hides, sinew and bone in his art. He applies colorful and modern materials to his warrior spirit masks.

The Indian art market will be from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $5 for general public, or $3 for museum members. Children enter for free.

The major corporate sponsors are Talking Rock master planned community and Bucky's and Yavapai Casinos.

Sharlot Hall Museum is located in downtown Prescott at 415 W. Gurley St.

For more information, call (928) 445-3122 or visit the museum's website at www.sharlot.org.