Saturday, Nov. 15, University of New Mexico Press holds its second annual public auction of nearly 200 Navajo rugs as a fundraiser to support publication of books by or about Native Americans. The auction will be held in the Prairie Star Restaurant at the Santa Ana Golf Club at 288 Prairie Star Road, just north of U.S. 550 in Bernalillo. The auction will be conducted by R. B. Burnham Native Auctions. A preview of rugs available for bidding will occur from 1 – 3 p.m. with the auction starting at 3:30 p.m.
This year, the press aims to raise $100,000 from the rug sale.
“If you enjoyed last year’s rug auction, or if you missed it, you are really going to love this year’s event,” said Luther Wilson, UNM Press director. “The venue is comfortable and spacious, and there will be a large collection of contemporary rugs from some of the best Navajo weavers.”
Ninety percent of the sale price for auctioned rugs will go to the weavers. “You are sure to find a rug you will want to buy – several, we hope – and you will support both the weaver and UNM Press’s books on Native America," Wilson said.
The rug auction is part of a series of outreach events by the Friends of the Press to raise funds for its $5 million Endowment Campaign launched in May 2007. Monies collected at other fundraising events go toward an endowment to allow UNM Press to publish high quality children’s books and fine art and photography books, to defray increasing production costs, to perpetuate the press’s commitment to high editorial standards, and to help maintain its independence in a world of publisher consolidation.
To learn more and how to contribute to the UNM Press Endowment Campaign visit: UNM Press Endowment Campaign or call Christina Frain at (505) 272-7183.
For more information about R. B. Burnham Native Auctions visit R. B. Burnham Trading.
UNM Press was established in 1929 by the UNM Board of Regents. The Press is a highly respected publisher in the fields of anthropology, archaeology, Latin American studies, the histories and cultures of the American West, art and photography. The press publishes an average of 85 new titles annually, has nearly 1,000 titles in print, and distributes more than 300 titles for more than 30 other local and regional publishers.
Media Contact: Carolyn Gonzales, (505) 277-5920; e-mail: cgonzal@unm.edu
Posted by kwentworth at October 16, 2008 04:15 PM