The Antique American Indian Art Show Santa Fe Presents a special exhibition Germantown Weaving: First Modern Art - 1870-1900 As part of a special exhibition at the 5th Annual Antique American Indian Art Show Santa Fe, a selection of rare and rarely-seen Navajo weavings will be on view August 14-17, 2018
For immediate release—April 1, 2018, Santa Fe, NM: As part of the annual Antique American Indian Art Show, held in Santa Fe, New Mexico from August 14-17, 2018, textile expert Kim Martindale will present a stunning group of Navajo Germantown weavings. This extraordinary collection is one of the largest and rarest in the world. The special exhibition will include a variety of brilliantly colored, meticulously designed weavings made from 1870 to 1900.
These striking artworks have a history as colorful as the patterns that adorn them. From the 1870's to around 1900, yarns spun and dyed at Germantown, Pennsylvania textile mills were sent to Navajo artisans in the Southwest. These richly hued threads of crimson, cobalt, and emerald, were spun into magnificent carpets and other items, incorporating ancient geometric designs, patterns, and embellishments. Commercial aniline dyed yarn was new and different from the natural dyes used by the Navajo weavers. It also eliminated labor-intensive processes or shearing sheep, spinning thread, gathering natural pigments, and more. The vivid coloration of the threads were embraced by indigenous artists, who transformed the brightly colored yarn into so-called “eye dazzler” weavings. Various factors contributed to the cessation of Germantown Navajo rugs, and very few of these items exist today on the market. Seeing these visually captivating, historical artworks in person is a rare opportunity.
The Antique American Indian Art Show Santa Fe takes place at El Museo Cultural de Santa Fe, 555 Camino de la Familia in the Santa Fe Railyard. The Opening Night Party is Tuesday, August 14 from 6-9pm; tickets are $50 per person and all proceeds benefit KNME New Mexico PBS.
The Antique American Indian Arts Show in Santa Fe runs August 15-17. Admission is $15 per day. The show will also be up during the Objects of Art Show at El Museo August 9-12th.
For a list of exhibitors, visit antiqueindianartshow.com. For more information, or to request an interview, please contact Clare Hertel at 505-670-3090 or clare@clarehertelcommunications.com Press photos are available here: https://objectsofartshows.smugmug.com/AntiqueAmerican-Indian-Show-S/Navajo-Germantown-Rog-Weaving-Expo/
Photo credit:
Objects of Art
Navajo Germantown Weaving: First Modern Art - 1870-1900 As part of a special exhibition at the 5th Annual Antique American Indian Art Show Santa Fe, this selection of rare and rarely-seen Navajo weavings will be on view courtesy of Kim Martindale. This group of weavings, displayed for the first time at the LA Art Show in 2017, is the most important body of historic Germantown Navajo weavings to be shown in decades.
