6th annual Eastern Navajo Arts and Crafts Festival

[pengwen]

Annual event celebrates enduring traditions, artistry
of Navajo culture in northwest New Mexico

Torreon – The 6th Annual Eastern Navajo Arts and Crafts Festival June 13 will feature some of the finest in traditional and contemporary Navajo art including sand paintings, weavings, silversmiths, sculpture, beadwork an quilts.

This annual event is hosted by Torreon/Star Lake Chapter, a typical Navajo ranching community, located 26 miles southwest of Cuba on state highway 197.

Throughout the day festival visitors can sample blue corn mush and other indigenous foods prepared from local plants; buy original creations directly from local silversmiths, weavers, sand painters, sculptors, painters, beadworkers, and quilters; and enjoy mutton stew, Navajo tacos, frybread, and other refreshments from local food vendors.

Live demonstrations by artisans include sand painting, silversmithing, beadwork, and weaving, including how to turn raw wool into finished yarn with handcrafted weaving tools available for sale.

Musicians and dancers will perform throughout the day. A diverse genre of performances have been seen at previous festivals. Last year some performances included traditional songs, traditional dances; Sacred Wheel, drum group from Crownpoint, dancers, Emmet Yazzie and group, traditional dancers; Native American Church Harmonizers, singing. Song-and-Dance is a Navajo round dance honoring veterans, but it can also be a social dance where everyone is welcome to join. Audience participation is definitely invited.

Interested visitors at this year's Eastern Navajo Arts and Crafts Festival will also have priority for participation in unique educational experiences during the day. Last year the festival coordinator Sam Sala guided a tour from Torreon to Chaco Canyon. Also a featured weaver was presented, Rita Rafael conducted a two-day workshop in Torreon helping five beginning weavers.

ENACF benefits self-employed Navajo artists, food vendors, and other home-based entrepreneurs from the Eastern Navajo Nation Agency. Festival Supporters: Torreon Community Store, Torreon/Star Lake Chapter of the Navajo Nation, NM Tourism Dept. - Indian Tourism Program, and JumpingSun.com.
For more information, call 505.731.2272 or 505.731.2336 or email eastern_nacf08@yahoo.com or visit www.JumpingSun.com