The shady museum gardens provide an inviting backdrop for the impressive display of Indian art as the 15th Annual Prescott Indian Art Market gets ready to kick off at the Sharlot Hall Museum July 14-15. This festival has grown in reputation and quality to become one of the Southwest’s premier Indian-art markets.

The market features distinctive jewelry, exquisite ceramics, sculpture, paintings, and hand-woven baskets and blankets. Highlights this year include the participation of five Navajo rug weavers and an amazing sand painter. American Indian artists jury the artists who produce traditional and contemporary artwork.

Visit with the artists and observe the processes involved in creating their work. Walk among American Indian demonstrators as they weave baskets and rugs, carve Katsina doll, and hammer silver. Observe the making of baskets and rock art. Entertainment is provided throughout the weekend in the outdoor amphitheater by Native American dancers, singers and musicians. A popular market feature is its mouth-watering Navajo fry bread.

This year’s multiple award-winning featured artist is Black Eagle, a Shoshone-Yokut. His amazing traditional and contemporary tribal artifacts and warrior spirit masks express his belief in the full circle of life and the importance of living as a part of nature. He incorporated native tanned hides, sinew, and bone in his art. He also applies colorful modern materials to his remarkable warrior spirit masks.