Tohono Village Trading Post Basics:
Address: 10 Camino Otero, Tubac, AZ 85646Phone: 520.349.3709
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Days and Hours:
7 days a week, 10am - 5pmAbout Tohono Village:
Located in the heart of historic Tubac, the Trading Post, which opened in October 2007, incorporates a courtyard with two shops. Visitors enter through a large gate. On the right you will see the beautiful gallery. On the left is the gift shop, also filled with Native American products. Toward the rear of the courtyard you will find traditional O'odham brush shelters. Eventually artisans will be invited to demonstrate their crafts there and Indian dancers will demonstrate authentic social dances.Why Tohono Village is Unique:
Rhonda Wilson, gallery manager, and Travis Nabahe, CEO of the Tohono O'odham Nations Economic Development Authority explained that the artists exhibiting at the gallery are hand picked. Many are Tohono O'odham but you will also find beautiful works by Hopi and Navajo artists, for example. The staff at the gallery know the artists and how each piece is made. To speak with someone who knows the significance of the designs on a piece of art, is to understand fully the beauty of that particular piece.Fair Trade and Pricing:
The gallery staff go directly to the reservations and to the artists. They ask the artists what they wish to be paid for thier work, unlike other businesses that attempt to underpay artisans for the time and talent involved in creating works of art. Having said that, I found the art at Tohono Village reasonably priced for the level of quality.Tohono O'odham Baskets:
Rhonda Wilson, the gallery manager, is herself a Tohono O'odham basket weaver. The gallery has a beautiful assortment of Tohono O'odham art baskets. Rhonda can explain to you how the baskets are woven and can show you the natural fibers that are used. She showed me the lovely baskets woven with yucca fiber and bear grass. To add color, weavers can use black seed pods and red banana yucca root. The gallery is a great place to purchase one of these beautiful baskets. They are not widely available.A Range of Media:
On my visit to the Tohono Village art gallery I found large stone carvings... huge bear fetish style carving with colorful macaw feathers decorating the wraps. These carvings were by Lance Yazzie, Navajo artist. There were large paintings and many glass cases showcasing jewelry. I was drawn to the colorful Michael M. Chiago paintings depicting Tohono O'odham life.About the O'odham People:
O'odham, means "the people," and you pronounce the name similar to "aw-thum." Two groups of O'odham live in Arizona. The Salt and Gila River communities near Phoenix are made up of Akimal O'odham (formerly Pima)and in southern Arizona the people are called Tohono O'odham (formerly Papago).Why The Tohono Village Trading Post is Worth a Stop:
The Tohono Village Trading Post is worth making a special trip to Tubac. I have traveled through New Mexico and Arizona and usually don't come upon Tohono O'odham art. You will find the best of Tohono O'odham art at the trading post. In addition, because the artisans from other tribes are personally known to the staff, you will find very high quality jewelry and art from the Navajo and Hopi. The gallery exhibits non-traditional pieces such as blown glass art and hand made furniture... all made by Indian artisans.I spent quite a bit of time enjoying the art. There were some very unusual pieces and the patient staff was eager to explain how the pieces were made and what the designs signified. This is something most gift shops and galleries cannot do when it comes to Indian jewelry and art.
The gallery is new and well-lighted displays make viewing the jewelry and art quite easy. It is spacious and uncluttered. I enjoyed my time there and plan to return to learn more about baskets and purchase one.
The Tohono Village Trading Post is not a traditional trading post, however they do purchase directly from the Indian artists they represent. The artists are paid for their work. Traditional trading posts historically trade the art for other goods and credit at the trading post.
The gallery and gift shop are welcome additions to the art community of Tubac. I've enjoyed Mexican and South American crafts at La Paloma and local Southern Arizona art at galleries such as the Cobalt Gallery. A gallery of this quality featuring Indian art just adds to the attraction of historic Tubac.
