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You don’t have to have a fat bank account to build a
great collection of Native American Art. Here are some tips on how to do
that, and what we can do to help.
1.
Become Educated.
Visit as many galleries and art shows as you can to learn about artists,
their work and their cultures. We can help visitors to our galleries learn
as we have over 51 different tribal cultures represented in our
collections. And, we provide collectors with some great insights through
our Trading Post
Times, and in the
Tips and Tidbits
area of our website.
2.
Ask Questions.
Don’t be shy. Native American Art is a complex subject, and even the experts
don’t have all the answers. Probably the most important question is, “Is
this authentic?” While we certainly don’t pretend to have all of the
answers, feel free to ask us, or e-mail us. If we aren’t ready with an
answer to your question, we’ll certainly find the answer for you.
3.
Shop for value.
Begin by working with a reputable resource, like River Trading Post, that
subscribes to the rigid standards of the Indian Arts and Crafts Association
(IACA), and the Antique Tribal Dealers Association (ATADA). Don’t be tricked
by equating “deals” and “discounts” with value. But do take advantage of
special gallery offerings such as those included in our
River
Trading Post Select
collections. This special collection is clearly tagged in each of our
galleries, and is featured each month in a special mailing only to subscribers
to our online
Trading Post Times.
You also can look at the
Great Finds
page on our website to find special items to help kick off a new collection.
4.
Stretch Your
Budget. Set a budget for yourself, then look for ways to stretch it
to help your cash flow. We help collectors do that through our
Collector’s
Layaway Program. Many of our collectors take advantage of this
interest free program to acquire that special piece that “Speaks to them.”
If you budget a little each month, you can build a nice collection in five
to 10 years. (Even a tiny bathroom can be made into a personally curated
exhibit.)
5.
Look for emerging
artists. Even today’s masters started somewhere in time, and over
time their works have appreciated in value. Many of today’s young artists
will become tomorrow’s masters. We work each day with many new artists who
show the spark to become tomorrow’s masters. Acquiring works by new artists
not only can represent a great buying opportunity, but your art acquisition also helps to
support the artists and their families.
6.
Pick a starting
point. Diversity is one of the beauties of Native American Art. Some
folks like to focus on a single area, such as Pueblo Pottery. Others prefer
a highly diverse collection that includes representative works of Plains,
Navajo, Hopi, Pueblo and many other cultures. A visit with us personally, or
to our website, can help to spark a plan for you. |
