Terry Schurmeier, owner of Cowboys and Indians Antiques in Albuquerque, announces that The Great Southwestern Antique Show, now in its 18th year, will be held on August 5, 6 and 7 at the Manuel Lujan Jr. Exhibit Complex, EXPO New Mexico State Fairgrounds, Albuquerque.
With 200 national dealers, this GSW event is one of the largest Southwest shows and sales of its kind and is your chance to find a unique piece of history that tells a story. There is a mystique and excitement that surrounds Southwestern history, a time that featured all sorts of fascinating characters—including pioneers, scouts, lawmen, outlaws, gangs and gunslingers, as well as the American cowboy, Native Americans and legendary pioneering women of the Frontier. The exciting part today is being able to buy a piece of that history!
Whatever the item you desire, it is sure to be found at The Great Southwestern Antique Show. Items range from furniture to small Early American arts, Native American artifacts, rugs and antique Indian jewelry to Fine Estate jewelry, vintage costume to Ethnographic Arts, as well as pottery, linens and decorative arts. With many spaces to browse, you will not be disappointed or walk away empty handed.
Dealers are friendly, knowledgeable and many have returned from a year of traveling in search of quality pieces. Finding those elusive pieces and learning about history through items that have survived are just some the things that make collecting antiques so much fun for hipsters, novice collectors and seasoned buyers.
With that special Southwestern cultural identity, Terry Schurmeier, a longtime NM resident, made a conscious decision to support the local arts and education community with an annual charity preview fundraiser. This year, she continues to support NM PBS as the charitable organization for which she established an endowment fund three years ago. The fund is managed by the Albuquerque Community Foundation.
The Sneak Preview fundraiser will be held on Friday, August 5, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets are $100 and 100% of the proceeds go New Mexico PBS. This ticket allows access to all weekend events including shopping Saturday and Sunday and the Saturday night reception at the sponsoring gallery, Cowboys & Indians Antiques, featuring beverages, hors d’oeuvres and music.
Saturday hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $12.00 each day or you can purchase a two-day pass for $20.00. Tickets can be purchased at the door or at www.gswevents.com.
“Viva Mexico!” Special Exhibition
A Special Exhibition at this show is “Viva Mexico! Treasures from Rinconada.” It features a comprehensive display of vintage Hispanic American textiles, costumes, sombreros, saddles, riding accoutrements and historic objects that date from more than three different centuries. Included are elaborately decorated objects that can seldom be seen, even in museums. They represent the colorful culture of Mexico and have had a lasting impact on many traditions of the American Southwest. Featured prominently are objects from the Charro culture. The Charro style of dress has its roots in the horse culture, which developed during the Late Colonial Period in the northern Mexico territories.
Credited with developing the style are the Hacendados, the wealthy landowners, and their Mayodormos (ranch managers), well documented in early 19th century paintings and lithographs. The most common companion to the Charro is the China Poblana. It is popular belief that the China style evolved from a young Asian girl originally brought to Mexico as a slave. Known as Mirrah, she was a visionary dedicated to Christ and was so revered that, when she died, she was considered a saint. The festive costume of the China Poblana represents the spirit of Mexican woman.
After Mexican Independence from Spain in 1821, the style apparently became increasingly more popular among the Mexican people. The horse culture of Northern Mexico fostered what was to become the American cowboy. The Mexican equestrian competitions called Charraria or Charreada are at the obvious roots of the modern American rodeo. Also, included in the exhibition are costumes from other aspects of Mexican culture.
The “Viva Mexico” exhibition is sponsored by Mark and Linda Winter and the Rinconada Hispanic Textile Museum.
Additional information about The Great Southwestern Antique Show is available at www.gswevents.com. You can also email info@gswevents.com, call 505-228-8115, follow the show on Facebook or check gswevents on Instagram. EXPO New Mexico is located at 300 San Pedro NE, and Cowboys and Indians Antiques is at 4000 Central Ave. SE. See ad on pg 13.