7 Fantastic Places To Find Authentic Navajo Art

Above, Navajo and other tribal rugs on display at the Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This coming week, I am going to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, the route I am taking will take me by the Hubbell Trading Post near Ganado, Arizona. I plan to stop there while I'm in "the neighborhood."

I was planning to visit the trading post two years ago, but on the weekend I was to go, it and other places were shut down due to the pandemic.

It and other trading posts in the Four Corners are the subject of an article by TravelAwaits on seven "fantastic" places to find authentic Navajo art in Arizona and New Mexico. I have been to the second and third places on the list: Richardson Trading Post on Historic Route 66 and the Gallup Flea Market.

They start with:

For more than a century, the Hubbell Trading Post and others like it on the Navajo Nation have been the go-to spots for finding distinctive Navajo art. You’ll find everything from handwoven rugs to beautifully embossed pottery and elaborate silver-and-turquoise jewelry. The good news is that a handful of the original trading posts are still in operation, offering a remarkable array of goods and artworks.

Dating back to the late 1800s and early 1900s, trading posts long served as gathering places where Navajo people brought their blankets, rugs, and woven baskets to trade for needed goods like flour, coffee, sugar, and tools. Today, the historic businesses on the Navajo Nation continue to offer world-famous Navajo artwork.

Another place worth checking out is the monthly Navajo Rug Auction in Crownpoint, New Mexico. Along with Navajo rugs, they also have pottery, jewelry and other items by different tribes. I found some good deals there.

To read more, go here.

A Visit To The Crownpoint Navajo Rug Auction

Above, some of the Navajo rugs on display for bidders. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This evening, I headed off to Crownpoint, New Mexico for the monthly Navajo Rug Auction (that is held on the second Friday of each month). I've been wanting to check it out and finally went today.

Above, the Crownpoint Elementary School, where the auction is held. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I wasn't in the market for a rug, but they have vendors present selling Native American arts and crafts. I thought it would be a good place to start Christmas shopping.

Above, inside the gymnasium the vendors tables were set up. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I arrived at around 4:00 at the Crownpoint Elementary School gymnasium.and found most of the vendors were already set up at their tables. In another room (actually a hallway), rugs from different artisans (weavers) were on tables with tags so that potential bidders can see which ones they like.

Above, more rugs on displacy for bidders to look at. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The vendors had jewelry, pottery, rugs, knitted goods, drinks, sweets, artwork and other things. The cafeteria kitchen was open and was serving Navajo tacos, among other delicacies.

Above, Claude (Acoma Pueblo) and Theda (Laguna Pueblo) at their table. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I found two vendors (Claude & Theda and Karen Miller) with pottery and nic-nacs that were etched and painted. The craftsmanship of these items were outstanding and with fine detail. I bought items from both vendors and took photos of them (posted here).

I looked at some of the rugs and many of them I wouldn't mind having. Every vendor I talked to were very nice and friendly.

Above, if I were a bidder, I would definitely bid on this rug. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I didn't stay for the actual auction (which starts at 7:00) as it was very dark out and I don't particularly like driving on pitch-black highways in my, uh, advanced age. It was a 42 mile drive back to Jamestown with 30 miles or so of it on a two-lane winding road.

On the way back to Jamestown, I was nearing the town of Thoreau when I saw red flashing lights up ahead. My first thought was accident. But it turned out to be a sobriety checkpoint (in both directions) by the New Mexico State Police (New Mexico's equivalent of the California Highway Patrol).

Above, Karen Miller from the Acoma Pueblo (left) and her daughter. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When I pulled up to the checkpoint, I rolled down my window to speak to an officer and got a blast of very cold air. It gets very cold quickly here once the sun goes down. Of course, I had no problems with the checkpoint and they were very courteous. They just asked a few questions, checked my driver's license and I was on my way. I managed to get home around 6:30.

I think the next time I go to the rug auction it will be during the summer months when there is still daylight at that time and not cold outside. Still, I accomplished what I set out to do and enjoyed going there.

Weather and Crownpoint Navajo Rug Auction

Above, Navajo rugs on display at this year's Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It looks like we're going to have seasonal weather going into the Veterans Day weekend.

It will be sunny for the most part with temperatures into the upper 50s and the lower 60s.

From the National Weather Service:

Today

Sunny, with a high near 58. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming north in the afternoon.

Tonight

Clear, with a low around 27. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Saturday

Sunny, with a high near 61. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Saturday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 31. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Sunday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 60. West wind 5 to 10 mph.

Sunday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 32.

Veterans Day

Mostly sunny, with a high near 57.

I am toying with the idea about going to Crownpoint tonight to attend the Navajo Rug Auction for the fun of it. Crownpoint is about 42 miles from Jamestown.

According to the auction's website:

The Rug Auction of Crownpoint is a community-based event that serves as the intermediary between Diné weavers and connoisseurs of Navajo art and culture. 

The Rug Auction of Crownpoint is organized and administered by the Navajo Weavers Association of Crownpoint – a community-based organization made up of weavers, community-members and volunteers. 

The Rug Auction of Crownpoint has been the staple of the Crownpoint community since 1964, serving as a hub for social and economic activity. The Rug Auction is unique in that it pairs local Diné weavers with tourists from across the world around over the beauty of Navajo art and culture. 

The Rug Auction is held on the SECOND FRIDAY of every month starting at 4:00 pm in which weavers submit their rugs and local artisans and vendor set up their arts and crafts tables. During this time, rugs are put on display until 6:30 pm, where visitors are able to handle and view the rugs that will be up for auction. The auction then begins promptly at 7:00 pm in which individuals may begin bidding on their favorite rugs.

I have been near Crownpoint, New Mexico, but have never actually been there.

To read more, go here.