Letters from Africa – Artists’ Feedback on their Market Experience

Friday, August 27, 2010
Posted by: Folk Art Market

The days of the Santa Fe International Folk Art Market can fly by, for volunteers, artists and staff alike, and it’s only after things have returned to ‘normal’ that we can reflect on the experience of those few days in July.

Here are extracts from messages artists and organizers sent us when they got back to Africa which show how much the 2010 Market meant to them.

First, notes from Nozipho Zulu, Development Officer at The African Art Centre in Durban, South Africa, who travelled to New Mexico with several South African artists:

“It was on our return to South Africa that we realised the extent to which the market was an extraordinary experience. We have never sold that amount of stock in three days; the ceramic pots, the wire baskets, embroidered textiles… We always had cheerful customers in our booths, never did we encounter an unfriendly customer, they were all smiling.

Flying out of South Africa was like a dream, they could not believe they were the chosen few out of a hundred applications.. Did I mention that we have receiving orders from customers who met us at the market? Jabu [Jabulile Nala] has received an invitation to exhibit her work in New York...That is amazing!!

The Women’s Colloquium and Market preparation workshop was worthwhile, we gained great knowledge which we will apply in our organisation.

It will be imposable to put into words the overwhelming experience we had at participating in the 2010 Santa Fe International Folk Art Market
Thank you for making it possible for me and the South African artists to experience the market, I must say that while we were preparing for the market, it did not feel reality.

From myself Nozipho Philasande Zulu, Brenda Mkhize, Alfred Bongukufa Ntuli, Xolile Hazel Ndlovu, Jabulile Nala, Zodwa Maphumulo and Ntombifuthi Mwimule, we would like to express our sincere gratitude. Words alone are not enough to express our feeling and we have not forgotten that a group of good people from Santa Fe made it possible.  We have never seen anything like the Santa Fe International Folk Art Market, this is a well organised event.

I have never seen 1500 volunteers who work so hard day and night in my whole entire life. I wonder how you do it.

Siyabonga .....!!! (Thank you in our Zulu Language)”

Next, this message from Nokwazi Mabila in Swaziland. Nokwazi represented Nurse Thembeni from the Phez’kwemkhono Bomake-Ncheka basket weaving cooperative, who couldn’t attend because of illness.
Nokwazi says:

“I am back in freezing Swaziland...I already miss the sunny days and warm nights of Santa Fe.

Last night I was thinking about the debrief session . . . we were asked what inspired us about the Market, and it occurred to me that had I spoken, this is what I would’ve said:

I am inspired by the organizers and volunteers who create a living space for artist expression. You enable us to come out of our cocoon and blossom, even if it’s just for one week. I thank you!

I am inspired by artists who live and thrive under difficult and seemingly impossible conditions, and yet still manage to create such beautiful artifacts. The Native Americans are right, ‘the hand is the tool of the soul.’

I am inspired by the guests who take the time to attend the Market and meet us, support our cause and take with them a piece of us. They give us strength to believe that our traditions are worth preserving.

I draw my inspiration from the dreamers of the Folk Art Market who thought their vision might work and the implementers who dared to become the agents of change. I salute you!”

If you’d like to share your experience of the Market with us (as an artist, visitor or volunteer), please , or post your reflections to our Facebook page.