About the Jurors
The Arizona State Museum's Southwest Indian Art Fair (SWIAF) offers recognition and awards to artists whose work is judged to be of exceptional merit. The goals of the jury process are to support excellence in the arts and to offer all participating artists opportunity for recognition from leading professional figures who have knowledge of both cultural and craft practices common to Native American art.
This year an invited panel of expert jurors selected artists for 39 awards of excellence. Jurors were identified by a committee composed of ASM/SWIAF staff. As with past fairs, the 2008 SWIAF jury for adult entries is composed of established working Native American artists and a non-native arts professional. These jurors reflect a cross section of perspectives and artistic disciplines. Purchase Awards are chosen by ASM Collections staff.
Arizona State Museum offers thanks to the 2008 SWIAF jury for their commitment to sustain the high standards SWIAF has developed over its 14 year history.
Adult Category Jurors
Jake Livingston, Navajo/Zuni, is an acomplished artist whose silver-smithing has been acknowledged by awards at many major competitive venues throughout the southwest. This includes awards at 2002 SWAIA as well as the Award of Excellence in Jewelry at the 2002 SWIAF and two awards at the 2004 SWIAF (the Award of Excellence in Jewelry and the Director's Choice Award).
Kent McManus, the owner of Grey Dog Trading Company, is a noted authority on Zuni fetish carving and Hopi katsina doll carving. Widely respected, he has served in a jury capacity for every major Indian Arts fair in the greater southwest.
Rafina (Ruby) Panana, Zia Pueblo, has won many awards: New Mexico State Fair, Heard Museum Fair, Eight Northern Pueblos, Santa Fe Indian Market, as well as a 2004 SWIAF Judge's Choice Award. Ruby is a 20 year veteran of traditional pueblo pottery.
Youth Awards Juror
Dawn Cromwell was the first director of SWIAF and guided it from its original concept as a venue for native pottery sales to its current role as one of the Southwest’s most respected Indian art fairs. Her longtime commitment to youth participation in this event reflects a particular sensitivity to youth category submissions. Since her retirement she has continued to counsel SWIAF's growth.
Arizona State Museum Jurors
Hartman Lomawaima, Arizona State Museum Director, Hopi, selected the winner of the Museum Director's Award. Lomawaima was responsible for initiating this award in 2003. His experience as an artisan includes traditional Katsina doll carving and silversmithing.
Patrick Lyons, Head of Collections at ASM, combines a knowledge of the needs of the ASM collections with expertise in many crafts to help select this year's purchase awards.
Diane Dittemore, Curator of Ethnographic Materials for ASM, has extensive knowledge of ASM's broad contemporary and historic collections.
Friends of the ASM Collections Jurors
Stuart Beckerman, Susan Finkenberg, and Don Morehart (who selected the Friends of the ASM Collections Purchase Award along with curator Diane Dittemore) are dedicated members of the Friends of the ASM Collections and avid students as well as collectors of Southwest Indian art.