“Look at the design,” you tell her. “The artist said this means respect for one’s elders, and I thought of you.”
A corny story, maybe, but wouldn’t you secretly love to give your mother a gift that makes her cry? You can find just such a museum-quality piece this holiday season at the Eiteljorg Museum Holiday Market, Dec. 7 and 8. About a dozen artists from Indiana will sell their handcrafted artworks directly to visitors.
Shopping during the Eiteljorg Museum Holiday Market has other advantages, too. White River Trader, the museum store, will be wrapping up its Turquoise Treasures Pawn Jewelry Show and Sale that weekend. Visitors can select from boxes of collectible and “gently worn” Native American silver and turquoise jewelry from the Art Quintana Trading Co.’s selection.
Admission to the Holiday Market is free with museum admission ($7 adults, $6 seniors 65+, $4 children 5-17 and full-time students with I.D.). With that admission, visitors can also see Mihtohseenionki (The People’s Place), a gallery dedicated to telling the stories of Native Americans from the Indiana region with historic and contemporary objects, as well as New Art of the West 8, an eclectic exhibition of contemporary art, and the museum’s renowned permanent collection.
The following artists are scheduled to take part in the Eiteljorg Museum Holiday Market (Native American tribal affiliations are within parentheses):
• Carol Antrim, Yorktown, Ind.—Traditional and contemporary basketry
• Jennifer Barney, Middleton, Ind.—Basketry
• Betty Tillmann, Middleton, Ind.—Basketry
• Shirley Brauker (Odawa), Coldwater, Mich.—Pottery
• Emily Dillard, Zionsville, Ind.—Gourd art
• Frank Ettawageshik (Odawa), East Lansing, Mich.—Traditional Woodlands pottery
• Katrina Mitten (Miami), Huntington, Ind.—Beadwork
• Robin McBride-Scott, New Castle, Ind.—Traditional Woodlands arts
• John Pigeon (Pokagon Band of Potawatomi), Dorr, Mich.—Black ash basketry
• Patria Smith (Miami), Fort Wayne, Ind.—Gourd art
• Paul Tamburro (Shawnee of Indiana), Bloomington—Silverwork
• Terri Brown, Whiteland, Ind.—Beadwork
The Holiday Market fine print:
Entrance into White River Trader only is free, but does not include entrance to Holiday Market or the Eiteljorg Museum.
For the sake of convenience, all purchases must be paid for in White River Trader, the store inside the Eiteljorg Museum. A small percentage of the total proceeds will benefit the Eiteljorg Museum.
Visitors and artists are free to negotiate on price.
All purchases, guarantees and warrantees expressed or implied are the responsibility of the artist. Neither the Eiteljorg Museum nor the White River Trader are responsible for the condition or wear of articles purchased at the artists’ booths. All sales from artists are final.
Mark your calendar for other holiday events at the Eiteljorg Museum
Dec. 14 – Latino Holidays
Make a pinata, Mexican tin ornament and tissue-paper roses and go on a treasure hunt, all while you learn about the Latino holidays of Las Posadas, Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe and El Dia de los Reyes. Free with museum admission.
Dec. 15 – Las Posadas
This annual Latino event moves to the downtown Indianapolis canal this year. Take part in a procession that recreates the search by Mary and Joseph for an inn. Starts at the Indiana Historical Society and ends at the Eiteljorg Museum, with traditional snacks.
Dec. 10 – Community Tuesday
Many attractions in White River State Park, including the Eiteljorg Museum, offer discounted admission on the first Tuesday of each month.
Dec. 27 – Free museum admission
Bring the family and out-of-town guests to the Eiteljorg Museum for free! -- www.eiteljorg.org
