Artist of the Year Award-Winners:
Mary Small 2002, Alfred Joe 2001, George "Shukata" Willis 2000, Pahponee 1999, Bruce Contway 1998 and Michael Kirk 1997.
The Indian Arts and Crafts Association is governed by an active Board of Directors which has representation from artists, wholesale, retail and collector members. IACA is fortunate that its Board members not only govern, but are actively involved in all programs, chairing committees, serving as market inspectors, floor monitors, workshop presenters, distributing and evaluating surveys and actively working with members.
Shane Hendren (Navajo), President
Artist Representative, Albuquerque NM
Term 2008-2010
Shane R. Hendren (Navajo) joined the IACA Board of Directors in 2007 as an Artist Representative. Earlier that year, he won the IACA 2007 Artist of the Year award for a contemporary necklace that incorporated several metalsmithing techniques, including the Japanese laminating technique known as Mokume-gane. A master artist known for innovative jewelry, he is also a painter, photographer, quilter and ironworker. He has a background in the arts, museum management and building design and construction. Enrolled at Navajo Nation, he also has Choctaw, Comanche and Irish heritage. He received associate degrees in fine arts and museum management from the Institute of the American Indian Arts in Santa Fe. Born in Gallup, New Mexico, he was raised on a ranch in Tohatchi, His father taught him horse riding, cattle roping and other skills needed to ranch. Like many young men, he started rodeoing to make extra money. Today it's his son who rides, but Shane will join in every once in a while. It's no wonder that one of his hobbies is making trophy buckles. Shane has received numerous awards, from the Santa Fe Indian Market, the Heard Museum, Eiteljorg Museum and other across the country.
Michael "NaNa Ping" Garcia (Pascua Yaqui), Ex-Officio
Artist Representative, Santa Fe NM
Term 2009-2011
Michael "NaNa Ping" Garcia (Pascua Yaqui), specializes in lapidary inlay jewelry in both silver and gold. He has served as President of IACA for the past four years. Michael has a degree in business and spent many years in the graphic and printing business before becoming a full-time artist. An enrolled member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, he lives with his family on the Nambe Pueblo Indian Reservation. His Indian name, NaNa Ping was given to him in ceremony. It means Aspen Mountain and translates as strength and leadership. Michael chairs the Indian Arts Education Association and has served on the Board for SWAIA, including four years as Vice-President. He is one of the few artists who sells at the international level with markets from Paris to Australia. He has coordinated three cultural exchanges with the aboriginal peoples of Australia and has participated in seminars and workshops teaching jewelry techniques and design to the aboriginal people of Australia. He recently returned from his fourth, one man showing in Japan.Deanna Olson, Vice President
Wholesale Representative
Silver Sun Wholesale, Albuquerque NM
Term 2008-2010Deanna Olson, is co-owner of Silver Sun Wholesale in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Silver Sun Gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Before opening Silver Sun, Deanna worked as an educator, teaching English, Southwest Native American and European History and as a German instructor. Graduating from the University of North Dakota, she taught in Montana, at Perdue University, the University of Wyoming, and as a Real Schule English instructor at Salzgitter Lebenstedt, Germany. From 1969 to 1976, she taught at the Bernalillo High School in New Mexico where she fell in love with her Pueblo students, their culture and jewelry. When she retired in 1976, Deanna and her partner, Cheryl Ingram, hit the road in a borrowed truck and spent three years in traveling sales. In 1979, she opened Silver Sun Gallery in Santa Fe, and Silver Sun Wholesale in Albuquerque, in 1985. Silver Sun became members of IACA in 1985, and Deanna has served on the board for ten years and as president for two years. She is currently one of the co-chairs of the IACA Public Relations Committee and committed to developing an international marketing program.
Susan Malis, Secretary
Collector Representative, Chicago IL
Term 2010
Susan Malis is the Collector Representative on the Board of Directors and has served as Treasurer for the last four years. From Chicago, Illinois, Malis was an educator for many years and has a Masters Degree in curriculum and instruction. She has held various teaching positions, including English as a Second Language and Reading Coordinator. She also served as a volunteer fund raising chair for the school, where she developed strong organizational skills and experience working with financial budgets. Susan taught in an area with the highest Native American population in the city and, as a result, became increasingly interested in Native cultures and art. She began traveling to the Southwest and started collecting a wide range of Native American art. She joined IACA to learn more about art and promote this unique art form. She was recruited to the Board of Directors where she has served as an officer for many years. Susan has traveled to many parts of the world, having visited more than 40 countries. She speaks Italian and travels to Italy every year. She would love to combine her interests and skills by helping to bring Native American arts to other parts of the world.
Susan Pourian, Treasurer
Retail Representative
The Indian Craft Shop, Washington DC
Term 2007-2009
Susan Pourian, the Director of The Indian Craft Shop at the U.S. Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C., is the Secretary of the IACA Board. Susan has served as a Retail Representative on the Board since 1997 and on the Executive Committee for six years. A native Washingtonian, she has a B.S. in Marketing with a study-abroad program in London, England. She implemented marketing and outreach programs to build the awareness of this destination-oriented shop, and under her direction, The Indian Craft Shop, has become recognized as one of the finest outlets in the nation representing American Indian arts and crafts from. Its customer base is diverse, ranging from local, domestic and international visitors, as well as clients seeking American made gifts for foreign dignitaries. The Shop hosted the Smithsonian's American Art Museum's Indian Market and participated in the State Department's Art in Embassies Program, International Folk Life Festival, National Geographic Film Series and assisted in educational exhibits for numerous government agencies including U.S. Customs, Justice Department, National Park Service, Department of Agriculture and U.S. Geological Survey. Working for its managing company, Guest Services, Inc. for over 25 years, Susan has experience in corporate marketing, multi-store management and special event and project planning, development and execution.
Bud August
Wholesale/Retail Representative
Southwest Indian Arts, Enfield CT
Term 2010-2012
Bud August, owner of Southwest Indian Arts in Enfield, Connecticut, is Vice President of IACA and serves as a Wholesale/Retail Representative. Bud has spent sixteen years in retail and wholesale sales of Indian arts & crafts. Prior to this, he spent fifteen years as a small business co-owner of three retail pharmacies and five years experience in medical sales to physicians, hospitals, pharmacies for two Fortune 500 companies. For sixteen years, he served as a regional manager for key accounts for a leading generic drug firm, with extensive experience in marketing, negotiating, sales and personnel management. Committed to provide education to artists, the industry and public, Bud has provided workshops on sales techniques for the wholesale trade shows. In 2000, he helped form Indian Arts Education Association with other IACA members who wanted to focus more attention on arts education. Today, IACA and IAEA work hand-in-hand to provide education programs, like the Business of Art seminars.
Don Standing Bear Forest (Metis)
Artist Representative, Fairbanks, AK
Term 2009-2011
Don Standing Bear Forest specializes in working with wampum, continuing an ancestral art form. At one time, the Metis homelands extended from Canada into the Northwest Territories. Originally from the Northeast coast of Canada, Don has lived in Alaska the last 33 years. He incorporates materials from the West coast into his art, using antler, claw, quill, feather, diamond willow, moose bone carving, gemstones and beads. In addition to traditional pieces, such as breastplates, rattles and dance fans,he also creates contemporary pieces. Don considers his art a gift from the Creator. His unique blend of traditional and contemporary style allows expression of his own creative spirit.
Wholesale Representative
Monsterslayer, Kirtland NM
Term 2009-2011
Jacqueline Foutz is a Wholesale Representative on the Board of Directors. She is the owner of Monsterslayer with her husband John Foutz, a fifth generation Indian Trader who has worked in trading posts just off the Navajo Reservation. In 1981, they bought the 550 Grocery Store in Kirtland, New Mexico, at a time when speaking Navajo was a requirement. Later, Jacque and her husband added a supply house in the same location, providing materials, supplies and services to Navajo silversmiths. It was a natural transition for them to begin wholesaling handmade Indian jewelry. In 1992, Monsterslayer become active members of the IACA. Both Jacque and John have served on the IACA Board, as members and presidents. Jacque recently returned in 2008, agreeing to serve another three year term. When the Internet came about, their son Joey introduced Monsterslayer to the World Wide Web and now the company ships products all over the world. Since Kirtland is not near a large city, advertising in nationwide magazines and on their website are their primary marketing tools. The name Monsterslayer comes from a Navajo story of two legendary twins who rid the world of monsters so the people could flourish.
Dudley Smith
Retail Representative
West Southwest Gallery, Denver CO
Term 2008-2010
Dudley Smith, owner of West SouthWest Gallery in Denver, Colorado, joined the IACA Board of Directors as a Retail Representative in 2007. His company has been a retail member since 1996. Over the last 20 years, he has served on many local and national non-profit boards, including the American Association of Museums, the Museum Store Association, Children's Museum of Tacoma, Estes Park History Museum, and as a mayor-appointed member on Denver's Cherry Creek North Business Improvement Board. Dudley worked the museum field in Denver from 1972 to 1995, where he managed operations, including membership, development, marketing and retail operations for museum stores and a restaurant. In 1995, Dudley opened his own business West SouthWest Gallery, which he still owns and operates. He brings a wealth of management and administrative expertise to the Board.Joseph P. Zeller
Retail Representative
River Trading Post, East Dundee IL
Term 2010-2012Joe Zeller is an Ohio native who spent over 40 years with major multi-national advertising agencies. During that time he developed advertising programs, and directed the media efforts of major corporations such as Kraft Foods, Procter & Gamble, Ford, and others. Joe graduated from the University of Notre Dame where he majored in communication arts, and he earned his Master of Fine Arts degree in radio and television from Ohio University. He is a founding member of the Amateur Hockey Association Illinois, and served as the association president from 1979 through 1981. He was inducted into the Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame in 2005. An avid collector of Native American Art, Joe opened the doors to River Trading Post upon retiring from the advertising business in 2000. His first gallery is located in the Chicagoland area. In the following years, he opened River Trading Post galleries in Scottsdale and in Santa Fe. His galleries feature a blend of antique and contemporary Native American art from over 80 different tribal groups. He was elected to the IACA Board of Directors in 2009.
PAST PRESIDENTS
2009-2005 Michael Garcia 2004-2003 Betty Numerof 2002 George Willis 2001 Susan Pourian 2000 Cliff Fragua 1999-1998 Deanna Olson 1998 Georgiana K. Simpson 1997-1996 Andy Abeita 1995 Pam Phillips 1994 Thom Meyers 1993 Rita Alexander 1992 Joe Douthitt 1991 Alpine Rodman 1990 Dorothy Davis 1989 Dr. Kathryn Linden 1988 Leo Calac 1987 Dorothy Davis 1986 Frank Barker 1985 Anita Baker 1984 Fran Pawlowski 1983 Martha Hill 1982 Lillian Samuelson 1981 Joe Lowry 1980 Bill Conolly 1979-1978 Tom Wheeler 1977 Mark Bahti 1976 Tom Woodward 1975-1974 John D. Kennedy IACA COMMITTEESMembers and friends are invited to attend and participate in Committee meetings.ARTIST OF THE YEARARTISTEDUCATIONETHICSFINANCEINTERNATIONAL MARKETINGMARKET (TRADE SHOW & MARKETS)MEMBERSHIPPUBLIC RELATIONS
