On April 8th and 9th, the Museums of Western Colorado (MWC) tried a new event and hosted Grand Junction’s first ever Native American Arts Auction and Appraisal Clinic. We worked with RB Burnham & Co Trading Post from Sanders, Arizona. They brought the expertise and art work. The event was sponsored in part by the Horizon Drive Business Improvement District and Grand Vista Hotel.
On Friday evening, the folks from Burnham Trading Post including Bruce Burnham, his staff, and their friend Hank Blair of the Totsoh Trading Post in Lukachukai, Arizona did an informal appraisal clinic. They looked at over 200 items from private collectors. It was wonderful to see the treasures that can be found in our community. Bruce also gave a wonderful talk about his 40 years as a trader among the Navajo peoples.
We held the auction the next day. Burnham had brought over 250 creations from the Navajo, Hopi, Zuni, and other native People groups. This included weavings, pottery, jewelry, baskets, and more. Also there were Navajo, Ute, and Paiute vendors and the Native American Cultural Programs of Montrose. It was a very spirited auction and the auctioneers were very pleased with the results (which turned into a nice fundraisers for the MWC). Look for the Grand Junction Native American Arts auction to return next year the first weekend in April of 2017.