 Winter is upon us, but we can help with those cold weather doldrums! Please take some time to take a look at this Palms Trading Company newsletter and visit our beautiful website to see
the wonderful items being created by our talented silversmiths and potters. It would be even better if you’re able to visit our store in person, as we have literally thousands more items on
display. Luckily, our website features an innovative 360 degree tour of our store, so if you aren't in town, you can still visit from the comfort of your own home!
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have opted in to receive our electronic newsletter and other communications. Your interest in what we do here at Palms makes us work even harder to present beautiful Native American crafts at excellent prices. We also hope you enjoy the periodic special offers we send throughout the year. I’d like to ask all of you to think about what you’d like to see in future newsletters and let us know so that we’re able to better serve you in all of our communications. Would more artist information interest you? How about more in-depth stories on how unique items are made? Would recommending things to see and do when you visit Albuquerque and New Mexico be valuable? Just let us know, and we’ll be happy to try to include your suggestions in future communications.
With 2018 in the record books, we’d like to extend our sincere appreciation to each and every one of you for your interest, and wish you all the best in 2019. |
| Experiencing the Deer Dance at Jemez Pueblo
By: Guy Berger
|
|
 It was a very cold morning. I was invited to the Jemez Pueblo Deer Dance by Pauline Romero,one of our long time potters from the village of Walatowa. I have been to many feast days at several of the Pueblos in New Mexico, but this one turned out to be the most memorable.
Still dark, I embarked on that early Saturday morning to Jemez Pueblo, not sure exactly where the festivities were to begin. I drove past the Pueblo, looking for spectators to gather, but found none. I continued to drive up to the village of Jemez Springs, a few miles north of the Pueblo. Still seeing no people, I headed back toward the Pueblo and asked a Pueblo policeman where a good place to watch the procession would be. It turned out that I was in the best spot already! As the darkness lifted, I saw smoke rising from the hills east of the plaza. There were two columns of smoke rising, one from the north side and one from the south. Pauline had told me that no matter which way the breeze was blowing, the smoke would head west over the village. I was skeptical about this, but even though it was a very calm morning, sure enough, the smoke headed toward the plaza and settled over it.  Finally, from the hills in front of me, a line of dancers appeared, walking with their deer costumes. This attire consisted of real deer antlers of all sizes, white kilts trimmed in red and green, bells around knees and ankles, and each dancer holding two canes, one in each hand, simulating the four legged deer. The ages of the dancers ran the gamut. Some I would guess were as old as 50, down to boys as young as 5. I could hear the procession before I could see it, the small tin bells ringing out the dancers’ arrival.
I heard the beat of the drums, a sound played and heard for hundreds of years, before I saw the drummers. It sent chills down my spine, which were made even more prominent when the singers joined the drums. As I approached the main plaza, hundreds of the deer and antelope dancers, as well as several eagle dancers, were moving to the rhythm of the beat. Mesmerized by the singing and drumming, I forgot how cold I was for a bit.
After watching from afar for a while, I made my way to the home of Judy Toya, one of my long-time storyteller makers and friends. She and her family were so gracious to let me into their small home, allowing me to warm my cold hands and feet near the blazing wood stove. These special people are so giving and gracious, even though, as my friend Ernan Roman once penned, “they have to look up to see the poverty line.” This is often the case during feast days open to the public, Native American women hospitably opening up their homes and inviting all to eat, converse, and enjoy. They are the embodiment of the myriad reasons Pueblos hold feast days such as this sacred: to offer prayers for food (the deer and antelope), thanksgiving for the past year, and hope for the year to come. Additionally,Pueblos also often initiate new tribal officers, continuing traditions held for many centuries.
If you ever have the opportunity to attend a Pueblo Feast Day, I promise you, you will not be disappointed. These phenomenal events offer incredible insight into the spiritual lives of the Native American people, and their kindness and graciousness will impress upon you the importance of tradition, thanksgiving, and respect.
|
|
|
|
|
Artist Spotlight: Ida Sahmie  Ida Sahmie, born in the the Navajo nation, became a member of the Hopi-Tewa Pueblo when she married Andrew “Louis” Sahmie. Her renowned mother-in-law, Priscilla Namingha (of Nampeyo- Namingha) fame, taught her to make Hopi pottery the traditional way, from picking and readying clay, to hand molding pottery in the coil method, to painting and firing. Interestingly, Ida was taught to weave by her own mother, but did not have the patience for it, and instead incorporates her Navajo heritage in her Hopi pottery by way of traditional Navajo designs, which are often based on the Yeis of
her childhood and the memories of dances and ceremonies.
Born on May 27, 1960 near Pine Springs, Arizona, Ida currently lives within the Hopi Pueblo but still prefers to dig clay for her pottery from her Navajo home. She uses a mix of natural white and yellow clays, which results in a peach colored body. She often mixes a small amount of white clay with wild spinach to create the softer black slip often visible in her images. Her pottery is then fired outside in the traditional way, with ash and sand, then mounded over with sheep manure for intense heat. This process can take all day, and can only be accomplished when the weather is just right.
Ida’s process, truly a labor of love, has taken years to perfect, and she is continuing the family tradition by teaching her children and grandchildren to make pottery. We were fortunate enough to see Ida recently, and to meet her grandson, Andrew, who completed his first sale with us! We’re so privileged to know Ida and count her among one of our friends, and we can’t wait to see her tradition continued in the hands of her loved ones. |
|
 |
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: Doña Seis  As multi-generational business owners of Palms Trading Company, it has been our pleasure, since Palms’ inception in 1933, to work with some truly incredible people. Our employee spotlight this month, Doña Seis, is the embodiment of a wonderful employee, colleague, and person.
Born March 9, 1961 in Albuquerque, Doña is a fifth generation New Mexican whose pioneer family married another pioneer family and created a life and a home in our beautiful state. She cites diversity of culture, beautiful sunsets, outstanding weather, and the Bosque as her favorite aspects of Albuquerque, and we are often the lucky recipients of photos Doña has taken on her walks along the latter, her outstanding eye capturing owls, other animals, and nature. Doña began working at Palms on March 24, 2017, and her already apparent love for Native American arts and crafts immediately deepened. She very much enjoys learning about Native American crafts, as well as working with customers, both new and old. Doña’s appreciation for each artist and piece is apparent not only in her dealings with customers, but in her drive to continue to educate herself on the products she works with every day. In fact, rather than citing a specific favorite artist, Doña cannot name just one, or even several, instead stating “every piece is unique, and I admire all of the wonderful artistry of every piece of jewelry and pottery.” When she isn’t working, Doña especially enjoys visiting her two children, finding treasures at thrift shops, playing piano, as she is a music lover, gardening, arts and crafts, and collecting Native American jewelry and pottery. A skilled cook and baker, Doña can also be found making (and eating) her favorite food, cream puffs, as well as spaghetti and meatballs and several other delicious options many of us have been fortunate enough to taste. She can also often be found spending time with her border collie, Piper, who she says is “my best friend.” Our business would be nothing if not for employees like Doña, who both work tirelessly to provide excellent, knowledge driven customer service, and make customers and co-workers alike feel at home and at ease. We’re so thankful to have Doña on our team, and hope you all get the chance to meet her one day. There isn’t a doubt in our minds that, just as she does for us, she’ll bring a smile to your face. |
|
| | It is with deep sadness that we announce that Mr. Augustine “Gus” Archuleta, father of our staff member, David Archuleta, passed away on January 14th, 2019.
Gus worked at the original Palms Food Market as a young man in his teens, and then became one of the main jewelry buyers in the early years of Palms Trading Company.
Eventually, Gus founded Gus’s Trading Company near Old Town, which he ran for several decades.
Gus will be missed by all who knew him, and we send our condolences to David, his wife Charlotte, sons William and Adrian, and all of Gus’ family and friends.
|
|
|
The famous potter from Santo Domingo, Robert Tenorio, called Palms one day and told me (Guy Berger) that his home had been broken into that day and to please keep an eye out for anyone coming in trying to sell his pottery, as the pieces were stolen. Sure enough, later that day, two men came into Palms and tried to sell Robert’s pots to us. I stalled the thieves for as long as I could while one of our staff members called the police. About 10 minutes later, the police came in and arrested them. Quite an experience!
Eventually, Robert’s pots were returned to him, and we have been close friends ever since. |
|
Customer Service and Feedback |
We always appreciate hearing from our readers. Please use this link to send us your feedback or ask us a question. Or you can always reach us on our Facebook and Twitter pages. |
|
Tell-A-Friend About Palms |
If you know someone who would enjoy reading about what is happening at Palms, please use this link to forward this newsletter to them. |
|
|
