My how the time flies!  We’ve been meaning to get our latest newsletter out now for a couple months.  It’s finally here. 

What's new? Our website!  Please take the time to see how complete and exciting our new design is and experience its new functionalities! Easier navigation, better photos and an ever growing selection will surely help you experience the magic of Southwest art!

 
We have been hard at work keeping the physical store full of new and interesting merchandise! 2018 marks my 30th anniversary of the purchase Palms Trading Company from my Uncle Angelo DelFrate and I can honestly say that our selection of new and vintage items has never been better. We continue to see many contemporary silversmiths and potters as well as a huge array of vintage jewelry and pots.

Please take a moment to read below about our new staff member Kim Kraut. We are so pleased to welcome her as a member of our team. 

As I have said many times before, we are incredibly fortunate to have you as our treasured customers but what means even more to me after all this time, is that I consider you my friends.

Not Just Rocks

by Peter Berger

There are many types of Native American art that carry a spiritual significance. Many of our artists create their pieces not solely because they are talented, but because their craft carries a special, traditional meaning that links them with a long line of ancestors that came before them. It is with this same spiritual connection that the art of fetish carving was conceived and carried on by many of the young men and women that come through our doors each day. It is said that the earth was once inhabited by large sacred animals, each with tremendous power and focus of significance. When the world began to change, these animals were later covered by rock and earth and re-designed to accommodate for the coming of man, however legend states that their power was never lost. The belief is that this power is still held within the rock that once covered these sacred beings, and that the animals still make their presence known by taking their form in the bits and pieces of rubble from the mountains around our beautiful desert. Should you walk by a rock while out hiking and notice it has the uncanny shape of a bear, you may very well be seeing the power of strength and healing coming from the earth itself. Today, fetish carvers have perfected their craft and make detailed renditions of these sacred beings, yet many of our carvers allow the minerals they use to tell them what shape they are to be. 

As carver Mike Laweka puts it, “The stone already knows what it is supposed to be, I just help bring it back to life.” Fetishes have become a very popular gift at our store, as each has its own special significance which makes it more personalized for special occasions, hardships, and/or accomplishments. They are far more than lovely pieces of art to set on the table or shelf, and carry a special relationship with the earth and with the history of Native New Mexicans. We hope all of you have the opportunity to come in and see the vast selection of fetishes we have, and hope you come to see and believe in an art form that has charmed to so many throughout the years.  

 EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT:  Kim Kraut

It is our sincere pleasure to introduce you to the newest full time member of the Palms Trading Company staff: Kim Kraut. With an infectious, bubbly personality and an admirable work ethic, Kim is not only enjoyable to work with, she makes each and every one of us better.Born April 26, 1961 in Portsmouth, Virginia, Kim recently moved to Albuquerque with her wife, Sue, and their two cats. “We have always loved Southwest culture and art,” says Kim. “When it was time to "retire," Albuquerque was the obvious choice.  The weather is beautiful year-round and I LOVE the proximity to the mountains. We love to hike and there are so many hiking trails here that we will never get bored!”

Her affinity for southwestern culture and art (and a “now hiring” sign on the door) led Kim to Palms, and it’s proven to be an excellent fit.  Though she’s only been with us for a short time, Kim has already gained considerable knowledge about Native American arts and crafts, and makes it a point to have conversations with many of the artists we work with daily.  She states “I especially love the education I am getting about local Native American arts, and the best part is meeting and talking to all of our artists. They have such unique and special stories to tell, if we only take the time to listen.” In fact, when asked about her favorite artist, Kim brought up her conversations with multiple artists, and couldn’t settle on just one. Rather, she gives us insight on a couple of her favorites thus far: “I feel like I have special relationships with all of the artists I have met.  I love chatting with Jeannette Calabaza and I have several of her pieces.  They're very colorful like me!  I also love the silver work of Eddie Secatero, especially his three steps of life cutout design. These are the ones I know best, but I'm meeting and learning more every day.”  

Ever the people person, Kim also took a minute to talk about her coworkers, saying “every single employee is awesome to work with – friendly, helpful, kind, fun, and knowledgeable.”  While we certainly do have our own knowledge to impart upon our new family member, Kim has also introduced us to other forms of art. She was an opera singer “in another lifetime,” and still very much loves to sing. She can often be found singing to the day’s musical selections playing across the store speakers, and sings with Albuquerque based Coro Lux.  She also enjoys giving voice lessons in her spare time. Additionally, Kim is an avid bird-watcher, and can’t wait to add new birds to her "sighted" list.

Her infectious laugh, ever increasing knowledge, and enthusiasm for her job and Native American arts and artists not only make Kim a joy to be around, but a valued member of the Palms family. We hope you all get the chance to meet her one day – we know you’ll love her as much as we do.

The Palms Trading Company Pueblo Scholarship Fund 

The new year is in full swing and we are so happy to see our customers, old and new, who are visiting us. We have so many new and wonderful things to be excited about this year from our beautiful new website to incredible, never seen before jewelry designs that our artists have been tirelessly working on.

One of our biggest focuses this year though, is taking our Pueblo Scholarship Fund to new heights. In years past, the Palms Trading Pueblo Scholarship Fund has provided opportunities for local pueblo students to buy books and necessities as they embark on their college journey. The recipients have been wonderful, hard working and upstanding members of the pueblo communities that are more than deserving of this program. This year, we would like to do even better. It is our goal, through this Scholarship fund, to one day afford recipients more than just books and necessities. With the help of you, our patrons, we feel that we can raise the bar and within the next five years provide not only funds for these items, but provide a semester worth of tuition costs for the commendable recipient. It is important to us that these children from the pueblos we work so closely with, receive the continued education they have worked so diligently for and would love nothing more than to see this Scholarship Fund further assist in this dream.

Donations can be made in any number of ways and, most recently, we have added a donation box to our website. which you will see in the shopping cart at checkout. Please also take a moment to watch the included video for more information on this very important cause. Everything helps, and today we ask for your continued help and support in the fundamental development of higher education for all of these outstanding young men and women.  

Sadly we have to announce the passing of two of our longtime artists.
Early this year, Chalmers Day, the accomplished Hopi silversmith, passed away.

We also learned a few days ago that the fine sgraffitto artist Norman Red Star passed away in South Dakota on March 24th, 2018

They were my friends and I will miss them.

In Jemez Pueblo culture, hummingbirds signify beauty and new beginnings because of the intricate colors of their feathers and their return in the spring. 

Mata Ortiz Susy D. Martinez Black on Black Pear Shaped Jar with Etching

Navajo Royston Turquoise and Sterling Silver Cuff Bracelet

Zuni Deldrick and Lorenda Cellicion Effigy Swan Pottery

Santo Domingo Torevia Crespin Multi-Stone Inlay and Melon Shell Cleopatra Necklace

Hopi Stetson Setalla Large Contemporary Jar

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