Santa Fe’s history is never so alive, rich and palpable as it is every August, during one week, when vendors and buyers from all over the world come to the Santa Fe Indian Market. Culture, beauty and history come together to enchant everyone.
It’s been 96 years since the first Indian Market took place in Santa Fe. And it seems like every year more people decide to visit Santa Fe to witness first hand the magic and artistry of this annual event, which includes pottery, textiles, silver work, beadwork, baskets and paintings. What begun in 1922, today reunites around 1,000 artists from over 200 federally recognized tribes from the U.S. and Canada.
This is the real deal: the largest and most prestigious juried Native arts show in the world. Organized and promoted every year by the non-profit Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA), the Santa Fe Indian Market attracts has a singe mission: to bring native arts to the world inspiring artistic excellence, fostering education, and creating meaningful partnerships. And that’s is something anyone attending the market can see for themselves: there are stories of heritage and craftsmanship, unique pieces of jewelry and art, but most of all, a sense of an artistic vain passed down through generations.
Not only sellers or wholesale buyers arrive in Santa Fe for this event. Many tourists and regular visitors make sure to get a rental vacation months ahead, to be in the city while the market takes place, and events such as the Native Cinema Showcase. The energy of the city and the ambiance just gets magnified and people have a great time all around.
Silver is always coveted
Let’s start by saying that fantastic silver pieces can be found in Santa Fe all year round. But it’s also true that the array increases greatly when all these artists come to town for the Market. From elaborate pieces of jewelry to works of art to decorate any room of the house.
These quality, authentic pieces should last a lifetime if treated with tender care. So what to do when it comes to cleaning or polishing silver pieces? Ana Valenzuela and her team of cleaning experts know exactly what to do, and share some easy tricks and tips people can apply at home to take care of rings, earrings and other silver pieces, all in a natural and effective way:
- A good old tooth brush and some toothpaste go a long way for silver rings and earrings. Just apply regular toothpaste with a dry cloth and let it act for at least 10 minutes. Then use the toothbrush to clean every angle and rinse with running warm water. This trick is key for those pieces that are used regularly and are not too tarnished.
- When you need to take care of really tarnished silver articles, try this: wrap the pieces in aluminum foil. Then soak them in boiling water with equal parts of salt and baking soda. A little goes a long way. Check after 15 minutes and leave longer if necessary. To give pieces some extra shine, use tip #1.
- For larger pieces, such as sculptures or silver frames, vinegar is your ally. All you need is a glass bowl filled with 1/2 cup of white vinegar and 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Let it rest for at least 3 hours. Remove and rinse under cold water. Dry carefully with a dry cloth.
These and other efficient and hotel-standard techniques are used by the team of Ana Valenzuela Home Cleaning Services, a team of professionals that takes care of your vacation rental in Santa Fe, so you have all the time to enjoy the city and everything else New Mexico has to offer.
