Purchase Crafts
ShoppingForAChange.Org is a top-ranked non-profit that sells high-design Fair Trade products created by indigenous artisans in 23 countries all over the global south----and supports development projects in the US and around the world. Collaborations with other nonprofits are welcomed. Website: http://shoppingforachange.org
The elegant Weavers Studio in Calcutta sells fine antique and contemporary hand-woven textiles from the 14th through 21st centuries. The studio also runs Art Camps and a vocational training program for earthquake victims in Gujarat. Website: www.weaversstudio.in
When the Indian Market, Santa Fe, happens (check website for dates) an estimated 100,000 visitors converge on the downtown plaza. Buyers, collectors and gallery owners buy directly from the artists: a rare opportunity to meet them and learn first hand about contemporary Indian artistic traditions.
American Museum of Natural History store, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York City, New York USA. Store Website: www.amnhshop.com
Before co-founding Novica, Armenia Nercessian de Oliveira was a United Nations officer working to resolve conflicts and defend human rights in war-torn countries. Her company, which is now partly owned by National Geographic, is an online agent for 2,000 artisans in countries around the world. Visitors to the Novica.com site can read about the artists, explore their cultures, view photographs of their work and select from more than 17,000 handcrafted works. Novica’s office staff (in El Salvador, Brazil, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Thailand, Venezuela and Zimbabwe) interview each artist, photograph their artwork, post the interviews and photographs online, and handle all packing and shipping on behalf of the artist. International couriers deliver the artwork directly to customers, eliminating numerous middlemen and transferring the savings to creator and customer alike. Website: www.novica.com
Maria “Lilly” Salvador is owner/potter-in-residence at Lilly’s Gallery on the Acoma Indian Reservation in Acoma New Mexico. Her fine work tells beautiful stories, and she will describe each of them for you in words that may bring tears to your eyes. Her card says “handmade, hand painted with natural earth materials,” and her connection to Mother Earth is powerful and infectious. Lilly's Gallery, Across from the Tourist Visitor’s Center, Box 342, Acoma, New Mexico 87034; Tel: 505-552-9501; cell: 505-228-9481
Spanish Market which happens annually in Santa Fe, New Mexico, celebrates the rich Hispanic culture of Northern New Mexico. The oldest and largest exhibition and sale of Spanish colonial art forms in the United States, Spanish Market features more than 300 traditional Hispanic artists, continuous live music, art demonstrations and regional foods. Website: www.spanishcolonial.org
Sharon Christovich, who has pitch-perfect taste, owns the The Folk Art Gallery, San Rafael, California and merchandises the store at the Museum of Craft and Folk Art in San Francisco. Her galleries are full of treasures from all over the world that range from whimsical holiday ornaments to fabulous hand loomed rugs. Website: http://thefolkartgallery.com.
Women and men artisans from many countries demonstrate and sell their crafts at the International Folk Art Market in Santa Fe, New Mexico sponsored by the Museum of International Folk Art. (Check website for dates.)
Ten Thousand Villages runs 180 stores in North America. Since 1946, they have been devoted to providing indigent third world artisans, who are mostly women, with as much of the proceeds from indigenous handicraft sales as possible. To eliminate the many costly middle-men who skim artisan’s profits, members of the Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches run the operation— as volunteers. 180 stores in the United States and Canada; locations are on the website: www.tenthousandvillages.com
More Places to Buy Crafts
Coyote's Paw Gallery, 227 Dan Gaspar Avenue, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501, Tel: 505-820-6191; fax: 505-983-4324; Website: www.coyotespaw.com
Field Museum stores, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60605; Tel: 312-922-9410. For store information; The Field Museum on-line store website is: www.store.fieldmuseum.org/
Folk Arts of Poland, 118 Don Gaspar Avenue, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501 USA, Tel: 505-984-9882; fax: 505-984-8974 Website: http://folkartsofpoland.com
Global Exchange Stores, 2017 Mission, San Francisco, California USA. Tel: 415-255-7296; fax: 415-255-7498. Website: http://www.globalexchange.org/
Ixchel Museo del Traje Indigena store, Francisco Marroquin University, 6 Calle at 6 Av, Zona 10, Guatemala City, Guatemala. Tel: 502-331-3739 or 502-331-3622 Jolene Bird (Noteiahe), PO Box 37, Santo Domingo Pueblo, New Mexico 87502, USA; Tel: 505-465-0340
Line Camp Gallery, 15 miles North of Santa Fe on Highway 85/285, New Mexico 87501. Tel: 505-455-3600. Website: http://tribesgallery.com
Museum of Craft and Folk Art store, Landmark Building 2, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco, CA 94123, USA. Tel: 415-775-0991; fax: 415-775-1861. Website: www.mocfa.org/index.html Museum of International Folk Art stores, 706 Camino Lejo, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA. Gift Shop: 505-982-5186; Book Shop: 505-992-2611; Bilingual Website: www.moifa.org
National Museum of Natural History store, 10th Street at Constitution Avenue NW, Washington DC 20560 USA. Tel: 202-633-1000 Website: http:/www.mnh.si.edu
National Museum of African Art store, 950 Independence Avenue SW, Washington DC USA, Store Tel: 202-786-2147 website: http://africa.si.eduindex2.html
Smithsonian Store Website: http://www.smithsonianstore.com/
Unan Imports, 6971 N. Sheridan Road, Chicago, Illinois USA. Tel: 773-274-4022
Xanadu Tribal Arts Gallery, 140 Maiden Lane, San Francisco, California USA. Tel: 415-392-9999; fax: 415-984-5856; website: www.xanadugallery.us/
What the Traveler Saw, 1880 Solano Avenue, Berkeley, California USA. Tel: 510-527-1775. Toll free: 888-339-8162. Email: info@culture store. Website: www.culturestore.com/
William Siegal Galleries, 135 W. Palace Avenue, #101, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501; Tel: 505-820-3300; fax: 505-820-7733. Website: http://www.williamsiegal.com/