 |
|
|
| Recent Developments |
| Palms Trading is proud to announce the opening of the Barelas Coffee House Gift Shop in Albuquerque through cooperation between long time grade school friends Guy Berger and Mike Gonzales. |
| Did You Know...? |
| Lucy M. Lewis used to come in to Palms with her daughters and her pottery. She was an icon, so I treated her reverently. She would come in to the store, ask for a seat (she’d sit on an old cottonwood tree stump we had in the back room) and we’d start to negotiate for her pots. I don’t remember her saying very much, but she shook her head “no” more than any artist I’ve ever known, and the price rose. Finally she’d shake her head “okay” and then smile at me, letting me know she was pleased. |
| Palms Personal Shopper Database |
We are proud to announce the completion of an automated database that tracks all of your personal requests quickly and easily.
This unique system allows us to input your personal preferences, such as specific artists or pieces of Indian art, then promptly contact you when those items arrive in our store.
We invite you to send our Personal Shoppers your specific requests via e-mail or by calling our toll free number, 1-800-748-1656.
Palms Trading Company will provide you with the most up-to-date and friendly service of anyone in our industry. Let us help you find that special piece!
Find out more» |
| 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. |
| 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. |
|
|
| Message from Guy |
 |
Guy Berger: Owner
Palms Trading Company |
|
Wow, another Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is upon us! The green chile is being shipped to market here in town and near many grocery and produce stores you can smell it being roasted. Delicious!
There are many interesting stories contained in this newsletter. Our lead story, done with my lovely daughter Diana, addresses a subject I've been thinking about for a long time. It seems to me that now would be the best time to support our local silversmiths and potters by keeping them busy making beautiful works of art. Why spend your hard earned dollars on foreign goods while these folks are working hard to provide us with terrific merchandise that we can pass on affordably to you?
Look in the "Did you know" column for a story that made me smile with fond memories about the great Lucy M. Lewis.
We are proud of the newest member of our customer service team, Krista Medici. Krista is my niece and the daughter of long time Palms jewelry sales manager Vince Medici. We're so glad she's available to help out when needed.
I think you'll also find an interesting artist profile about Marilyn Ray, formerly Marilyn Henderson. Marilyn has been bringing her work to Palms for over 25 years and we're honored to represent her work.
As always, we hope you find our communication interesting and useful. We're here to try to provide the best in Southwest Art at affordable prices for you. Don't forget to let us know what you're looking for and we're always looking for your constructive comments about our store, our website www.palmstrading.com and our newsletter.
Best Wishes,
Guy Berger
|
Meaningful, Affordable American TreasuresBy: Guy and Diana Berger
I have given much thought to the subject of buying local and buying American in order to articulate it in our fall newsletter. In collaboration with my lovely…and very intelligent…daughter Diana, we have tried to find just the right words to express my belief in finding that special, authentic Native American piece that will not only give you or the person you give it to pleasure, but also those that come after you (or them). I don’t think many items we buy in giant chain stores or on T.V. have that sort of staying power or beauty; those items are usually something we wear a few times, put away somewhere and never look at again. Moreover, in buying from venues such as those just mentioned, we send our dollars overseas to foreign economies and to people who could care less about us.
We buy and sell beautiful, affordable jewelry, pottery and other items carefully crafted by LOCAL artisans. Our pride in our long history of providing an outlet so that these Native American people can sell their wares and help their families is enormous. In addition to purchasing a piece you’re able to enjoy, you’re essentially making an investment in an item your family can enjoy for generations. In a society where large retailers are commoditizing many goods and services, Native American art and Palms Trading provide unique, authentic and timeless items, as well as an experience that cannot be found elsewhere. Your purchases not only reflect who you are, but are a vessel of the vision and vigilance of a very gifted Native American artist who, in one way or another, spoke to you through their creations and talent.
So as we make our way, as Americans, through these trying economic times, we feel strongly that we all should make careful purchases and decisions that, even in small ways, help each other.
|
Artist Spotlight: Marilyn RayBy Diana Berger
Marilyn Ray of the Acoma Pueblo has been creating beautiful storytellers and figurines since 1981. Born August 14, 1954 to Edward and Katherine Lewis, she is one of five daughters all of whom are also well known names within the pueblo pottery community: Judy Lewis, Rebecca Lucario, Diane Lewis and Carolyn Concho. Marilyn’s work is not only impressive because of its detail and consistency, but also because she is a self-taught potter. Her awards include many first, second and third place ribbons at Eight Northern Pueblo Shows, the Santa Fe Indian Market and the New Mexico State Fair. Marilyn’s favorite activity when creating her life-like figures is painting the children on her storytellers, and the defining characteristic of her work making it most recognizable is her use of large, emphasized eyes and the addition of insects such as lady bugs and butterflies.
A Family Affair: Krista MediciBy Diana Berger
While it’s a well-known fact that Palms has been a family business for generations, it might be a lesser known fact that many of the employees at Palms are, very literally, family. In many instances, in introducing you to my coworkers, I am also introducing you to my relatives, and Krista Medici is no exception. The daughter of jewelry buyer Vince Medici and niece of owner Guy Berger (making her my cousin), Krista was born on July 15, 1991 and is a senior at Valley High School in Albuquerque. After graduating in May, she plans to continue her education, attending both CNM and UNM part time in addition to working at Palms. Although her student status only allows her to work for a few hours each weekday after school and on Saturdays, she is as knowledgeable and helpful as any other member of our staff.
At only 17, Krista impressively possesses an excellent familiarity of the Palms inventory and is most well-versed in the offerings of our jewelry department. She cites Bruce Wood as her favorite artist and inlay work as her favorite type of jewelry, both because they are so unique and there is rarely anything like those pieces. Her favorite aspect of working at Palms is not only her co-workers, but being able to learn about the jewelry: specifically about the various stones and artists we see daily. Her eagerness to learn manifests itself every day in her understanding of the product as well as her outstanding customer service.
In what little down time she does have, Krista enjoys spending time outdoors, working on the computer, playing with kids and animals, and hanging out with her friends; most often going bowling, watching movies, or eating (her favorite food is Italian, but, in her own words, she’s “always up for a good ‘ol fashion burger”). In addition to listening to as much country and rock music as she can, Krista is becoming an avid photographer and can often be seen with her camera in tow, whether out with her friends, at school, or at family functions. We are very proud to have Krista as part of the Palms family, both figuratively and literally.
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta: October 4th-12thBy Diana Berger
October is always an enjoyable time in Albuquerque, not only because of the changing colors and climate signifying the presence of fall, but because fall brings with it the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Each morning beginning October 4th, the vast Southwestern skies will be filled with hot air balloons of all shapes and sizes, bringing native Albuquerqueans and frequent visitors fond recollections and creating memories for those new to the experience.
With the recent decrease in gas prices, we hope to see more of you here to enjoy the Balloon Fiesta with us. We hope you’ll not only enjoy the sight of balloon filled skies, but that you’ll venture into Palms and admire the changes that have occurred in our store. From the installation of a notty pine “trading post” floor to the vast inventory from both new and long-standing artists, we’ve been busy trying to provide a more enjoyable experience for you. We’re sure that while you’re here you’ll find items you’ve never seen before, and we always look forward to seeing our long time friends and meeting new ones.
|
| |
|
|
 |
| Native American Events and
Dances in Central New Mexico |
Events for October
Oct 3 - 12
Albq Int'l Balloon Fiesta. Traditional dances, youth pow-wow, crowning of Lil' Miss IPCC at Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque.
Oct 6 - 7
Zuni Harvest Festival and Arts Market
Oct 17
Laguna Pueblo: St Margaret Mary Feast Day
Events for
November
Nov 12
Tesuque Pueblo, Jemez Pueblo: San Diego Feast Day, various dances
Nov 27
(Thanksgiving)
Zuni Pueblo Christmas Lights Parade
Nov 29 - 30
3rd Annual Santa Fe Indian Market Winter Showcase, Santa Fe Convention Center
|
Events for December
Dec 12
Pojoaque Pueblo: Guadalupe Feast Day; Jemez Pueblo: Matachines dances
Dec 24
Sundown torchlight Procession of the Virgin, Vespers and Matachines Dances at Taos, Picuris and Ohkay Owingeh/San Juan Pueblos; Acoma Pueblo luminarias and dances; Mass and dances at Laguna, San Felipe, Santa Ana, Tesuque Pueblos
Dec 25
Matachines and various dances at Laguna, Picuris, San Ildefonso, Santa Clara, Santo Domingo, Ohkay Owingeh/San Juan, Tesuque, Taos and Zia Pueblos
Dec 26
Turtle Dance at Ohkay Owingeh/San Juan Pueblo; various dances at Santo Domingo Pueblo
Dec 28
Holy Innocents Day; children's dances at Santa Clara and Picuris Pueblos
|
|
| |
| |
|
Palms Trading Company |
1504 Lomas Blvd. NW Albuquerque, NM 87104 | palmstrading.com
Call Toll Free: 1-800.748.1656 |
| |
|
|
