...Oh right, so began many trips to Santa Fe. For those of you that are not aware, Santa Fe is home to the largest Native American Art Market which is held every August. Thousands of artists apply to a jury and little more than a thousand are chosen. Since it seemed fortuitous, I applied just before the January deadline to the governing body of the market, SWAIA, to be considered for one of their Residency Fellowship Awards. Then tried to put it out of my mind. Thanks to wonderful cousin Evelyn, I was invited by National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI I know I know) to demonstrate weaving at the end of February. It was greatly encouraging to sit in the rotunda surrounded by the talented female cousins, Linda, Holly and Evelyn and visit with the appreciative attendees. This was my first trip to New York and it was a running visit. I managed a brief foray into Saks 5th Ave only to quickly depart. You know that I'm not feeling well if I walk away from that kind of collection of shoes. Luckily I had been smart enough to hail a town car and took the driver's phone number. He came back and collected me (okay but not before I bought the Tom Ford perfume that I had been in want of...want no more, it is here with me now as I write this). Sunday morning found me feeling a great deal better and I wandered up to this store with Evelyn. If I could remember the name of it, I'd share it with you. Needless to say, two pairs of Jimmy Choo's later (they were on sale and yes, it makes perfect sense to buy one pair in black and the other in nude) and I'd become separated from Evelyn. We both found our way to the museum and had another successful day of demonstrating. Then the land speed record was broken by my driver who had to get me to the last flight leaving New York for Phoenix. The intriguing man awaited as did The Heard Art Show. From a rather chilly New York to balmy breezes and palm trees was moderately surreal. The show was eye-opening to wander around in and it was nice to run into people that I knew, both Santa Feans and Haida Gwaiians. Who else but a Haida girl would walk away from an art market in a tropical clime with a leather and sea otter fur Russian style hat? Yours truly. The perfect hat for North Beach walks and Santa Fe winters.
From that gathering of people in the Haida longhouse at MOA, I had met an elegant couple. From this meeting, more secrecy began. The cosmopolitan husband commissioned a bordered robe. His beautiful wife waited until he was out of hearing and then asked that the robe be a surprise gift from her for his upcoming birthday in the Spring. Those of you who have watched me try to play poker know that my career was short lived due to incomprehension of the rules and HAVING ABSOLUTELY NO POKER FACE. Months of weak half-truths and "I'm too busy to meet this trip, how about the next" followed. I felt bad misleading such a kind man but knew that it would be worth it when his wife accomplished her grand unveiling. The robe was meant to evoke eventide or the gloaming hour when the last light fades from the day and velvet blue descends. The beautiful wife said that I had woven poetry. We did not have a small tug-of-war as she prepared to depart. Well, okay, it is quite hard to give over something that you have spent months creating and living closely with. The robe went to a home that would love and appreciate it and so I let go. I do have visitation rights though!
It was an eventful Spring and did I happen to say that upon my return to Haida Gwaii, a letter from SWAIA awaited. Perhaps a little bird in Phoenix had already spilled the beans but I was all smiles to read that I was a Residency Fellowship Winner. What to pack?
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