For the fifth year, Camp Verde Spring Heritage, Pecan & Wine Festival-goers can expect the Verde Valley Archaeology Center to make an impact.
According to VVAC Director Ken Zoll, the Archaeology Fair and American Indian Art Show is a two-fold event.
“The fair is intended to provide a number of free activities to educate the public on the science of archaeology,” Zoll said. “Three archaeology films will be shown on March 19 and repeated on March 20. In addition, the center will host five free talks on archaeology or archaeology-related themes. Many of the speakers are provided by the Arizona Humanities Council as part of their AZ Speaks program.”
Also featured are displays in the Camp Verde Community Center on stone tools, prehistoric pottery, flint knapping and other topics. Members of the Yavapai-Apache Nation will participate at their own booth, with tribal historians telling their history within the Verde Valley.
“The fair always include an American Indian invitational art show,” Zoll added. “This free show features artists invited based on the quality of their work. Artists will represent Hopi, Navajoland and several of the New Mexico pueblos. Native American entertainment will be included on Saturday and Sunday, including performances on Saturday by Jonah Littlesunday, who appeared on the 10th season of America’s Got Talent.
“The center attempts to bring a range of media including pottery, jewelry, painting, Katsina carving and stone carving to present a well-rounded show.”
According to Zoll, the fair and art show both serve important purposes — to educate the public on “the science of archaeology and the importance of preservation” and enrich them by exposure to modern native culture, crafts and artwork.
“The show is an important part of the center’s mission of working with Native American communities and to assist in the preservation and presentation of their cultures,” Zoll said.
After considerable thought and analysis among a small group of judges, this year’s selected artist has been announced.
Walter Torres hails from the Pueblo of Acoma, N.M., and he is one of the first of his people to use stone as an artistic medium. In 2008, he met the stone sculptor Adrian Wall from Jemez Pueblo, who helped him discover his talents in stone. Torres continued his studies at the Poeh Arts Center in Pojoaque and now works as a professional sculptor, with works displayed in museum markets including the Eiteljorg Museum, Sharlott Hall Museum, Pueblo Grande, the Autry National Center and the Cherokee Art Market.
The Archaeology Fair and American Indian Art Show will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., March 19 and 20. Admission is free.
For more information, visit vvarchcenter.org or call the center at 567-0066.
| Spring Fling |
| What: Camp Verde Spring Heritage, Pecan & Wine Festival When: March 19 and 20; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Where: Downtown Camp Verde Via organizers, “Local pecan vendors will be selling bagged and shelled pecans for your pleasure. There will be wine tastings from 12 different local wineries. Cost for the wine tasting is $12 for six tasting tickets and a commemorative wine glass that is yours to keep. We have a variety of vendors [and] music for your enjoyment, and games of cornhole and pecan toss. “In addition to the Pecan and Wine Festival, we will be having the Verde Valley Archaeology Fair and the Verde River Runoff canoe and kayak race. Our famous Fort Verde State Park is right next door and they will be sponsoring a Pecan Pie Contest and Vintage baseball game featuring FV Excelsiors vs the Glendale Gophers.” Participant applications are due March 5. For more information, visit campverdepromotions.org. |
