Today’s SWAIA market brings over 1,100 Native artists from the United States and Canada to sell their artwork and it is currently the largest and the most prestigious juried Native arts show in the world.7 The almost 100-year-old market is also the biggest cultural event in the southwest, bringing in visitors and collectors from all over the world to buy directly from Native artists.
“Our travelers come from all over the world, as far as Japan, I’ve had a couple visitors from England come talk to me today,” 2018 SWAIA Director Ira Wilson told CATV, “they come from all over the place. Meet the artists, get to know the artists, talk to the artists, they’re wonderful people. They have wonderful stories about their art, that’s the best part about purchasing it, because you get to buy directly from the artist.”8
The goods and events at the market today are a fusion of traditional and modern. Some stay very close to their traditional roots, often using techniques perfected by family members and passed down. Others reinvent traditional crafts with new materials or imagery. Wares vary widely, including pottery, baskets, textiles, silverwork, beadwork, sculpture, and paintings. Native performers are scheduled throughout the day, while larger events require additional tickets due to space restrictions and demand.