Oldest Indian art gallery marks 106th anniversary

Wright’s Collection of Indian Art, the oldest continuously operating Indian art gallery in Albuquerque, will commemorate its new location and 106th anniversary with a festive celebration on Mother’s Day weekend, Saturday, May 11 and May 12. The gallery is at 2677 Louisiana NE.

When Wright’s opened in 1907, the New Mexico territory had a population of just 327,000 and was still five years from statehood. Sheep farming was the territory’s most lucrative industry. A young adventurer named Charles Wright, who had been working for the Fred Harvey Company, left the hotel chain to open his own business: Wright’s Trading Post and Curios. It was headquartered Downtown in a landmark adobe pueblostyle building at Fourth Street and Gold Avenue.

As Albuquerque has evolved from dusty frontier town to cosmopolitan city, Wright’s has changed with it, from a rustic trading post to its new, sophisticated gallery. Over the years, Wright’s has represented the most significant Native American artists of the day, from Pablita Velarde and Maria Martinez to today’s multiple award-winning artists such as Jennifer Curtis, Caroline Carpio, Alfred Joe, Joe and Althea Cajero, Cliff Fragua and many more.

The business has remained in the hands of just two families — the Wrights and the Chernoffs. “We’ve lasted 100 years by representing the best of the Native American community — and our upcoming art market is our way of thanking our artists and our customers,” says gallery director Wayne A. Bobrick.

The celebration will kick off on Saturday, May 11, at 10 a.m., with a ceremonial blessing by a Native medicine man and a ribbon cutting. Over the weekend, there will be flute playing by sculptor/musician Adrian Wall, dancing by World Champion Hoop Dancer Nakotah LaRance — recently returned from Cirque de Soleil — an informal fashion show by Navajo designer Penny Singer and more.

Outside in the parking area, booths will be set up for an Indian Artist Market, where the public can meet and buy directly from dozens of leading artists in various media.

Indoors, to honor all of the Native artists who have supported Wright’s over the years, a silent auction with a variety of items will raise money for First Nations Community Healthsource, a nonprofit organization that serves the local urban Native population as well as other underserved populations, such as the homeless.

Also indoors: a trunk show of vintage jewelry and fetishes by Southwest Zuni Connections, a very special appearance by Navajo master jewelers Carl and Irene Clark with their legendary micro-mosaic jewelry and artist demonstrations by Maxine and Dominique Toya (pottery) and Alice Yazzie (pastels).