The drum beats, intercepted by the sweet sound of a flute, drifted down Market Street on Saturday, enticing passersby to enter through the front doors of the Briscoe Western Art Museum. Once inside, visitors came upon rows of tables lined with Native American crafts including jewelry, carvings, basketry, weavings, and pottery.
In its second year, the Briscoe’s Yanaguana Indian Arts Market hosted 40 Native American artists from across the nation to sell their goods and participate in the traditional festivities.
Jewelry maker Joel Pajarito displayed rows of silver bracelets, chains, and pendants, many of which resembled corn in recognition of his father, Anthony Lovato, who is a member of the Corn Clan.
“We implement corn into the jewelry to give a little example of our tradition,” Pajarito said.
Pajarito and his father design, cast, and sell the jewelry together, traveling “all the way from Connecticut to Los Angeles” throughout the year to sell their goods. Pajarito, who attended the market last year, said he’s never going to miss a year.
“I love the market in San Antonio because it gives us more of a chance to make a sale and gives us more time to work with our customers and to actually have a good conversation with some people,” he said.
Compared to other Indigenous markets in the United States, the Briscoe Museum’s market is small. The market will be open Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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Yanaguana Indian Arts Market: A Texas Tradition Begins?
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