Each November the Adopt-A-Native-Elder Program sponsors a rug show and sale in Park City. At this event, we present the Elders' traditional weavings. During the show, there are a variety of programs centered around traditional Navajo culture. These include weaving demonstrations, dances, special entertainment, and a fund-raising auction. All proceeds from the sale of rugs woven by the Elders in the Program go directly to the weavers.

From its humble beginnings more than 20 years ago, with just a few rugs at the Kimball Arts Center, the Annual Rug Show and Sale has evolved into what may be the largest event of its kind in the country.

The Rug Show helps Adopt-A-Native-Elder create a market for the Elders’ crafts and raise awareness about the Elders’ needs. The Elders bring rugs, jewelry, and baskets to sell. They return home with all the proceeds from their sales. The money enables them to buy food, firewood, and hay during the winter.

24th ANNUAL SHOW NOVEMBER 8 - 10, 2013

WEAVING WINTER STORIES

Our rug show this year features the theme Weaving Winter Stories. The winter season is a time of cultural renewal for the Navajo people. With plants and many animals asleep, there isn't quite as much need to spend time with the agrarian necessities of life. Dine' families gather at this time of year, often in their hogans, to share stories and play games. These are times when much information about history and culture are passed along to the younger generations.

At the rug show last November, the weavers were invited to create rugs that interpreted their view of winter themes of their choice. We have received many rugs, and they represent a fascinating spectrum of views about the winter season. Some represent cultural lessons associated with winter while others simply depict winter activities and scenes.

This storm pattern rug by Rena Robertson is titled White Thunder.

Rena writes about this rug: "It is said that you can only hear or see the White Thunder during the winter. It is the female thunder. The first time you hear it is in the middle of October. It is heard again in the middle of January. Between these months you will occasionally see only the lightening but not hear the thunder. During the time of White Thunder all plants are asleep. They don't grow or move until they hear it again in January."

VOLUNTEER

You are invited to become a part of the planning and preparations for the show. Visit the Volunteer Activities Page to see upcoming events for rug show volunteers.

23rd ANNUAL SHOW    NOVEMBER 2 - 4, 2012

For the 2012 show we turned our eyes to the sky, the night sky, to be specific. Much Navajo lore centers around the sky. The sun, the moon, and the stars all play important roles in Navajo cosmology, and Navajos have their own constellations representing the Star Beings. Read more about the rug show theme here.

After the successful completion of the show, the weavers and their families were able to return to the reservation with a significant boost in resources to help them through the winter months.

Here are several resources for more information about the show:

Click here to see the poster for last year's show.

Click here to see a slide show of photos from the show.

And click here to view a series of blogs about the show.

DONATE

Please consider making a donation to support the Rug Show and the work of the Program.

PURCHASE RUGS FROM OUR CURRENT CATALOG

If you are interested in purchasing a unique, one-of-a-kind rug made by one of our weavers, please visit the Rug Catalog.