Membership in Agave offers many benefits. It gives you the opportunity to network with other young professionals and community leaders, to become involved in community-building activities, and to gain valuable, resume-building experience.
What's it like...to volunteer at Indian Market
By Stephanie Spirer
The deal seemed too good to pass up: Free admission to Indian Market, discounts at the White River Trader, and an opportunity to enjoy beautiful Native American art for a year. Who wouldn’t take advantage of becoming a member of the Eiteljorg Museum? Even so, I didn’t think selling memberships would be that easy. I thought most people wouldn’t want to be bothered with some solicitation. They'd only want to spend a nice (though a bit breezy) Saturday afternoon in Military Park. After all, that’s why I signed up to help out at the membership booth at Indian Market. I ended up getting a much better deal than I bargained for.
I was warmly greeted by volunteers from the first shift who were enjoying a taste of Indian Market—literally. One of them had just returned from getting a round of tamales for the table. As I watched them unwrap the cornhusks to reveal the tasty treat inside, my mouth started to water when the spicy aromas and steam rose from the chicken. While the volunteers savored their food, I was given a free pass to stroll around Indian Market before starting my shift.
Row after row of turquoise jewelry, wooden carvings, sculptures and ceramic pottery filled the tents. Some tables were adorned with award ribbons signifying that this was not just an art sale, it was a juried show. I was glad I didn’t have to judge all of the artisans’ wares because it would have been close to impossible. Canvases hanging from the walls were so vibrant with color and detail, you could almost hear the howls of the wolves and the beat of the drums. Actually, I was hearing the beat of the drums. A crowd filled another tent where performers were singing and dancing in traditional Native American style.
The music didn’t stop there. Back at the membership booth, the other volunteers and I were serenaded by a patron who had purchased a new recorder. The beauty of the carved wood was matched only by the rich, mellow sounds it played. Another visitor who had attended Indian Market for years stopped by to show us the stone figurine carved into a bear that he had bought. A couple of faithful Eiteljorg members dropped off a gift for a friend of a deep blue turquoise pendant. People had traveled from as far as California and Florida to get the deal of the day—a chance to both survey prize-winning art for a few hours and take home something to enjoy for future years. And if they bought a membership, they got an added bonus—they became part of a community dedicated to promoting a culture rich with history and art for all to appreciate.
“What’s it like…” is a regular column of the Agave e-newsletter that allows members to discuss their experiences at the Eiteljorg Museum. If you are interested in contributing, please contact agave@eiteljorg.com.
Learn more about becoming a museum volunteer.
