For those in the know, the answer is yes. SWAIA’s Indian Market, however, is still the clarion call of the year’s best art work to date. Many curators, collectors, and artists find that the works on offer there define the current trends in Indian arts. Others have lately begun to wonder if the recession and the pull of other markets (such as Japan’s eager collectors) have made Indian Market’s vendors less innovative. Last year, we noted some fine artists had less variety in items at their booths. Many notable inlay jewelers showed a limited range of designs; one artist admitted to me that his best work was available through a dealer who was set up in a Santa Fe hotel room. Several popular potters brought only a handful of creations.

Are deals being made before (or during) Market that siphon the “good stuff” away? Only ten years ago, the first hours of Indian Market were fraught with collector frenzy and selling intensity. That’s hardly been the case in recent years. Yes, certain artists still sell out by late morning, but the action may be taking place more and more offstage. We’d like to hear from people who’ve attended Indian Market over the last decade and see if they agree with this perception of slowing change . . .