Mesa Verde Country® Press Releases

This year's featured artist for the Indian Art Market is Hopi Basketmaker Dorleen Gashweseoma Lalo. Dorleen is a master weaver and a recipient of numerous awards, including most recently, the Arizona Governor's Arts Award. Dorleen grew up in a very traditional Hopi family and her "school" was working with her grandmother collecting materials and learning how to make baskets. A beautiful yucca sifter basket by Dorleen is this year's festival raffle piece, and may be viewed on the festival website: www.mesaverdecountry.com. A podcast by Dorleen is also available on the website.

The Indian Art Market, located in the parking area near Far View Terrace in Mesa Verde National Park, will run from 10:00 - 6:00 on Saturday, May 24 and 10:00 - 4:00 on Sunday, May 25. An artist's reception for Dorleen will be held on Friday, May 23rd at Mesa Indian Trading Company in Cortez, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM.

On Saturday, May 24, at 7:00 PM Arvel Bird, the 2007 Native American Music Awards Artist of the Year, will perform a special solo concert in the Morefield Amphitheater at Mesa Verde National Park. No matter what music one enjoys, from classical, New Age, folk, country and Celtic to Native American, bluegrass, fusion, jazz, or blues, all of this and more is found in the repertoire of this master of the fiddle. Known as "The Lord of the Strings," audiences always come away from his performance feeling good. Tickets for the concert are $20 for adults, and $10 for children under 12, and may be purchased at Southwest Sound in Durango and at Rocky Mountain One Stop and the Mesa Verde Country® Tourism Office located in the Colorado Welcome Center in Cortez. Tickets will also be sold at the concert. To view a video on Arvel Bird and to listen to sound clips of his music, visit the Mesa Verde Country® website, www.mesaverdecountry.com.

An extraordinary Navajo Rug Auction will be offered on May 24 at Far View Terrace. A rug seminar, beginning at 10:30 will provide an introduction to the various styles of Navajo weaving, and what to look for when purchasing a Navajo rug. An auction preview follows from 11:00 - 12:00, and the auction will take place from 12:00 - 3:00.

At the Ute Tribal Park on Saturday, May 24, Porcupine House will be open to the public. This special tour is offered from 9 - 3. A tour of the Anasazi Sun Calendars and Petroglyphs found in the Tribal Park will be offered from 9:30 - 1:30. The cost for these special tours is $24. Regular full day tours of North Lion Canyon will also be conducted on May 24 for the reduced price of $24. Reservations should be made with the Tribal Park at 970-565-9653.

Other Festival activities include the Anasazi Heritage Center exhibit: "A Gesture of Kinship." This special Navajo photo exhibit explores the dynamics of a Navajo community through time. The Cortez Cultural Center presents evening Native American Dances and Cultural Performances beginning at 7:30 PM at the Center. Special Native American dance performances will also take place on Saturday and Sunday in Mesa Verde National Park at 10:00, 1:00, and 3:00 in the Chapin Mesa Amphitheater.

The Indian Arts and Culture Festival highlights many of the stops along the Trail of the Ancients National Scenic Byway--the only National Scenic Byway totally dedicated to archaeology. Byway and Festival attractions include Mesa Verde National Park, the Anasazi Heritage Center, the Ute Tribal Park, and the Cortez Cultural Center. For further information on the Festival, visit www.mesaverdecountry.com or call 800-530-2998.

For more information about destinations and activities in Colorado's Mesa Verde Country® call 1-800-530-2998 or visit www.mesaverdecountry.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact:	Lynn Dyer Mesa Verde Country® (970) 565-8227 lynnd@mesaverdecountry.com	IMAGES AVAILABLE www.mesaverdecountry.com