'Hot Opening' For Cohen's Historic Indian & World Tribal Art

SANTA FE, N.M.

:"History has never looked so beautiful," claimed the announcer on local cable television ads this summer while promoting Barry M. Cohen's annual Historic Indian & World Tribal Arts show. And when Cohen's fourth annual show returned to the Shellaberger Tennis Center at the College of Santa Fe this year, it all became reality with a stellar selection of clothing and moccasins, tomahawks and weapons, beadwork and basketry, textiles and rugs, as well as pottery and jewelry.

The opening reception, Thursday evening, August 11, was a benefit, in part, for New Mexico's Museum of Indian Arts and Culture. A large and enthusiastic first night crowd and unusually steamy weather contributed to a "hot opening." Dealers agreed that sales were solid, and in some cases, better than ever.

The show was moved in 2004 from the four-star Eldorado Hotel downtown to the college with the new location providing ample free parking, as well as the largest single-room show floor in town. Ongoing word of mouth and a comprehensive advertising campaign succeeded in attracting a sizable local audience; the international collecting community already knew this was the place to be.

The number of dealers at the show totaled more than 100 in 95 booths this year, compared to about 35 when the show opened in 2002. This year, Cohen beefed up the roster with the addition of numerous dealers including Ned Jalbert of Massachusetts, David West of Arizona and Thomas Murray, Mark Richards and Arte Textil, all of California, and from Santa Fem Morning Star Gallery, Steve Elmore, and Mark Winter. Cohen also welcomed well-respected Santa Fe ethnographic dealers William Siegal and TAD Tribal Arts, and Joel Cooner of Texas.

To keep the show interesting to the broadest range of buyers, dealers like Artemis Gallery displayed Greek, Roman and Egyptian antiquities, Williams American Art from Nashville offered Cartier and other high-end jewelry, plus Etherton and Treadway Gallery displayed vintage southwest photography and Native American-themed art pottery, respectively.

Each reported a good to great response to their wares. This year, too, a room was added off the lobby; it held four dealers. Among those located in the tiny outpost were New York/Brussels dealer Shirley Day of Asian Rare Art, and Michael Evans Fine Arts of Philadelphia, who specializes in African material. Both reported respectable traffic and very successful shows, buying and selling well.

Ted Trotta of Trotta-Bono, New York City, felt that the venue provided "an exceptional opportunity for the sophisticated collector." New Mexico dealers Bruce and Sandra Van Landingham were almost sold out, as was Spanish Colonial dealer Fred Cain.

Longtime dealer Elaine Tucker of Linn-Tucker Indian Baskets declared the show "first class - the best Indian material I've seen in years, and by far the most superb tribal arts show in which I have ever exhibited." She and her partner Natalie Linn sold steadily and well.

Cohen estimated that this year's attendance was about 30 percent better than last year, and noted that last year's attendance was also up by 30 percent from the previous year. Show dates for 2006 are August 10-13.