From the desk of
Charlene Cerny, Executive Director
of the Santa Fe International Folk Art Market

Hello Market Supporters,
 
So many Market visitors have told me that the 2011 Market was the “best ever”—and I hope the experience felt that way for each of you receiving this note from me.  It was my 8th Market this year and I must say that when the smoke finally cleared (literally!) and seasonal rains started on Sunday night right as the Market closed, I felt the same way.
 
We made some changes for this year’s Market that I believe made a significant difference.  We added a third payment booth, located on the lower level, resulting in shorter wait times to buy.  Our staff worked closely with the City to refine loading and unloading of the Market buses and that too relieved some of wait times experienced last year. The Market’s ambiance was truly memorable this year, with beautiful white doves and spectacular giant flowers setting the tone.
 
Best of all, our Market artists--always the stars of the show—were thrilled with the enthusiastic response of our buyers. Their collective sales totaled a record $2,314,065!  Average booth sales were $17,399—another record-breaker.
 
Since 90% of sales revenue goes home with the artists, we know that this means more positive change in the artists’ home communities—more children (and girls) in school, more drinking water piped into homes, and more jobs, too, as folk artists expand their capacity to produce.
 
Here are some other notable highlights:
 
•  “International Folk Arts Week”, done in collaboration with the Museum of International Folk Art, other arts organizations such as the Center for Contemporary Arts and the Santa Fe Children’s Museum, and many businesses around town, saw some thirty-seven events on the calendar this year.
 
•  The week kicked-off with a July 3rd opening of a new exhibition, The Arts of Survival, at the Museum of international Folk Art, with several Market artists taking part in the educational activities. The opening was followed later in the week by hands-on workshops enjoyed by children and adults alike.
 
•  The U.S. premiere of Mary Lance’s extraordinary new documentary, Blue Alchemy: Stories of Indigo, was screened on Wednesday evening to a sell-out crowd at The Lensic. Everyone got into the spirit by “wearing their blues” and hearing local favorites Agalu as well as a moving shakuhachi flute solo dedicated to those lost in Japan’s earthquake and tsunami, performed by Kojiro Umezaki.
 
•  We estimate over 2,000 people attended our first Market Kickoff at the Santa Fe Railyard. An audience of all ages attended, experiencing the Artists Procession, a free concert by the West African Highlife Band, food booths and a commemoration of the Peace Corps’ 50th anniversary.
 
•  The Market Opening Party on Friday evening was a huge success—with an increase in attendees of 24%. More than 2,000 people celebrated at what many have said is sure to be remembered as the best party of Santa Fe’s summer. Sales on Friday night alone topped $500,000.
 
•  Attendance overall, including Friday, Saturday and Sunday, is estimated at 22,235—just over last year’s visitor count.
 
•  The Shine on Pakistan booth—where 100% of sales revenues were designated for relief to Pakistan’s flood victims--by the end of the weekend had earned over $33,000.
 
But as you know, it is the “heart” side of the Market, with an impact that is harder to measure, that creates the memories we all cherish. 
 
For me, one of the most memorable parts of the Market this year was the smiling faces of our dedicated volunteers.  Despite the hot sun, long hours, and at times stressful conditions, our volunteers were the friendliest, most hospitable people one could ever hope to meet.
 
Then there is the sight of the first-time artists who come to Market.  As the fear leaves their eyes, and they begin to experience success, the change in their demeanor is profound. This year Farzana Sharshenvieva and her sister Kadryrkul came representing seven generations of felt workers from Kyrgyzstan.  They returned home with $32,869!
 
And then there was Naina Valasai, from a remote desert region in Pakistan, who had never boarded an airplane before. She and her husband Surendar came to represent their community’s colorful ralli quilts.  Surendar said: “We were both afraid of the plane, but if we want a better life for ourselves and our village then we must take these challenges.”
 
All of us here at the Market send all of you our warmest thanks for your good thoughts and wishes, your participation, your generous contributions—and, in the case of our truly fabulous volunteers, including our Board of Directors—for your amazing work. It is your commitment that makes the Market the success that it is.

Warm regards,

  
Charlene Cerny
Executive Director 

Photos © Samuël Mascolo and © Bob Smith
Santa Fe International Folk Art Market
404 Kiva Court, Suite E
Santa Fe, NM 87505
505.992.7600
   
www.folkartmarket.org