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River Trading Post (Scottsdale)

 images/rivertradingpost.jpgWhat a treat to visit Joe’s Scottsdale shop. And even more exciting was the fact that it was the week of the 52nd Heard Museum Guild Indian Market and River Trading Post had invited many artists to come to the shop and meet collectors. ALWAYS plan to go to the Heard a couple of days early and do the Art Walk on Thursday night. Joe tells me that there were at least 700 people around, artisans everywhere and live Indian music. I, sadly, missed the event, but met several artists later in the week.

The nice thing about meeting the artists is you get to talk with them about how they started doing their art, what’s involved, what they like/dislike about the work, where they live, where they show and on and on. It’s fun and an honor to meet these incredibly talented people.

This year Joe set up the Toadlina Trading Post in the space next to River Trading who brought a couple of Navajo weavers with them. Once you see the amount of work that goes into cording (that’s the hand process of making yarn from a pile of wool) and then the weaving you almost want to pay more for the rugs you buy. It’s amazing.

River Trading has done a couple of unique things in this trading business. He has joined forces with Toadlina Trading Post (about one hour north of Gallup) which specializes in Two Grey Hills Navajo weavings. Joe will be carrying their textiles in is Scottsdale shop. You can read about the great work they are doing with the weavers as soon as I post a profile of Toadlina Trading Post on this site.

Additionally, Joe has had a nice working relationship with Kathi Ouelette who owns Traditional Pueblo Arts, an on line pottery store. Kathi is known as one of the leading Pueblo pottery authorities, and has judged the pottery category for the Heard Museum Indian Market.  Kathi is the managing director of  River Trading Post in Scottsdale and her pottery collection is available in the Scottsdale shop. Check out her great inventory and story as soon as I post her profile on this site.

His beautiful shop is in a prime location on Main Street in Scottsdale, has a tin ceiling and always has a pot of cowboy coffee brewing. For more information about River Trading, check the profile at River Trading Post in Santa Fe and he also has a shop in Chicago.

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Driving Directions

About

Inventory

Joe carries everything from Navajo textiles to Northern and Southern as well as Hopi pottery, sculpture by Cliff Fragua (Jemez Pueblo), Mark Fischer (Oneida), Caroline Carpio (Isleta Pueblo), Hopi katsina dolls, Plains indian art and gifts. Joe is always looking for new Native American artists he can support and feature.

Source Of Inventory

Contemporary Native American art is purchased directly from the artists where possible to provide the most direct support to the families. Antiquities come from estates, private collections and occasionally from top auctions.

Shop Description

 The shop is the showcase of Main Street, the top end art street in Scottsdale. It is large, roams from room to room, but is all open and full of sunshine. Joe and Kati were always hanging out right across from the front door greeting everyone who comes in. The website is full of wonderful information, as well as wonderful art and is a must visit too.