Classification Standards

1.   Materials

• Bone, Wood, Shell
• Natural turquoise, lapis, and other untreated stones and gemstones, ceramic medallions and/or objects set as stones.
• Natural pearls, finished stones and gemstones in cabochon or facetted shapes set in metal settings
• Metals: Only Non-plated metals are allowed and must be identified as silver, brass, copper, gold.  Gold must be at least 14K

2.    Commercially available Glass beads and undyed pearls must be restrung and used in combination with significant hand-made components produced by the artist. 

3.    Chip inlay:  No powder inlay allowed.  Must be 85% stone, 15% adhesive ration 

4.    Cast Jewelry (including sand, cement, wax, tufa, and cuttlebone)

• Mold must be hand-made, hand-carved and poured by the artist.
• Wax-carving and lost-wax casting may only be used once for a one-of-a-kind item

5.    Fossilized Ivory

6.    Findings:  Must be integral part of the finished product. i.e. commercial chain (not sold separately), jump-rings, earring backs, clasps, barrette clips, money clips, hooks and eyes, leather for bolos or concho belts

Allowed with disclosure
Materials

1.    Liquid Silver, gold or plated materials or gold less than 10K      

2.    German nickel silver is acceptable when its use has been established by tribal use. 

3.    Stabilized stones must be disclosed on the entry form itself. 

4.     Commercial stones and coral from temporary strands    

• Must be natural and un-dyed
• Must be used in combination of handmade items
• Must represent less than 50% of the finished item

5.    Fabricated laminate pattern sheet metals

6.    Precious metal clay

Not Allowed

1.    Imported stones, fetishes or shell beads. 

2.    Reconstituted or compressed laboratory grown, plastic or synthetic block materials

3.    Items assembled from manufactured components such as purchased machine-made or die-struck items, cast blanks (rings,
       bracelets, bezel cups, leaves, bolo tips, etc.)

4.    Liquid Silver, gold or plated materials or gold less than 14K      

5.    Mass produced items by any casting or any other method

6.    German (nickel) silver is acceptable only when its use has been established in a tribal area

7.    Plastic Beads      

NOTE:  All jewelry entered must be both designed and hand-crafted by the artist himself.

Traditional jewelry:  Any materials and techniques that are true to tribal and ancestral standards.
 
Contemporary Jewelry:  Any allowable materials, techniques and designs with disclosure.
 
Contemporary stone or shell jewelry: (pre-Columbian style using contemporary materials).  Primarily inlay or heishi styles, but can include using any allowed jewelry materials derived from ancestral styles and designs. 
 
NOTE: Special consideration is given to the use of natural hand-processed materials as well as the sense of design, materials used, and an awareness of contemporary tribal life as it exists today.
 
All stone, shell or metal elements, beads, feathers and animal materials must be identified and comply with jewelry standards and all state and Federal laws and regulations.
​
Note:  Ribbon entries must NOT be sold or promised at the time of Judging.

Allowable
1.  All Handmade pottery
2.  Native harvested and processed clays, slips and paints

Allowed with disclosure
1. Materials

• Kiln-fired and or double-fired pottery
• Pottery made with commercial materials, e.g. clay and glazes.  All decorative elements must be properly identified and must comply with the allowable materials for jewelry. 

Firing Methods
1.  Out of Doors:  for shock reasons, before being traditionally fired, the piece may be warmed in a household oven at a temperature
     not to exceed 550 degrees F.  It is then fired out of doors using wood, coal, or dung. 
2.  Kiln fired and double fired:   Pottery of native or commercial clay is high-fired in an electric or gas kiln

• Pottery of hand-built native clay is high-fired in an electric or gas kiln and then re-fired out of doors. This is referred to as double-fired.

• A traditional outdoor piece is sometimes re-fired in an electric or gas kiln to reduce fire and smoke clouds. This process is often referred to as double-fired.

Limited
Slip molds or greenware must be a small part of your work and must be painted and fired by you.,

Not allowed
Non-Indian or commercial pottery 

Note: Ribbon entries must not be sold or promised at the time of judging.

Allowed

1.  Printmaking:  Hand-pulled prints in a numbered and signed edition of not more than 50

• To be considered for judging, print must be one of the initial series

2.  Photography:  All works signed and numbered with edition of no more than 50. 
     a. Both traditional techniques and contemporary manipulated techniques are allowed.

3.  Note cards
 
4.  Sandpainting: 

      Natural earth materials

• Natural color sand
• Stone ground into sand

      Non-natural earth materials

• Color improved sand
• Dyed sand

5.  Representational Painting

• All work must be ready for hanging on a single nail, including matted, framed and shrink-wrapped items
• Mixed media including framed art with beads
• Materials

                  Oils, including oil sticks and oil pastels
                  Acrylic
                  Gouache/opaque and transparent watercolors

6.  Abstract Painting

• All work must be ready for hanging on a single nail, including matted, framed and shrink-wrapped items
• Mixed media including framed art with beads
• Materials

                  Oils, including oil sticks and oil pastels
                  Acrylic
                  Gouache/opaque and transparent watercolors

7.  Computer generated graphics

• Graphics that are computer generated using computers and, more generally, the representation and manipulation of image date by computer.
• Printed digitally-created work printed in 2D

Not Allowed

• Offset Lithography
• Giclees of paintings
• Photomechanical reproductions i.e.  Posters, T-shirts
• Wet Paintings will not be accepted
• No whiteout or magic marker in sandpaintings
• No entry, including multiple panels, may exceed six (6) feet at its greatest dimension, including frame

Note:  Ribbon entries must not be sold or promised at the time of Judging.

Three dimensional objects

•  Traditional:  image produced using inherited methods and historical materials
•  Contemporary:  to promote innovation and perception through fabrication of a piece.
•  Fetishes/Miniature sculptures:  These carvings are ceremonial to their creators and depict animals and icons integral to their  culture.

Allowed:
1.  All hand-wrought materials, such as stone, wood, metal, ceramic, paper, cloth, et.

• All must be signed, numbered and marked by the foundry

2.  Hand blown and fabricated glass

3.  Fabricated fiberglass

4.  All work must be completed and finished. 

Allowed with disclosure: All decorative elements such as beads and feathers, etc. must be properly identified and comply with allowed materials for jewelry, and must also meet standards for State and Federal Laws and regulations.
         
Not Allowed:

1.  Cast resins or glue
​
2.  Installation art

3.  No entry may exceed 48 inches in its greatest dimension. All measurements
     will include the base.

Note:  Ribbon entries must not be sold or promised at the time of Judging.

Three dimensional objects

•  Traditional:  image produced using inherited methods and historical materials
•  Contemporary:  to promote innovation and perception through fabrication of a piece.
•  Fetishes/Miniature sculptures:  These carvings are ceremonial to their creators and depict animals and icons integral to their  culture.

Allowed:
1.  All hand-wrought materials, such as stone, wood, metal, ceramic, paper, cloth, et.

• All must be signed, numbered and marked by the foundry

2.  Hand blown and fabricated glass

3.  Fabricated fiberglass

4.  All work must be completed and finished. 

Allowed with disclosure: All decorative elements such as beads and feathers, etc. must be properly identified and comply with allowed materials for jewelry, and must also meet standards for State and Federal Laws and regulations.

Not Allowed:

1.  Cast resins or glue
​
2.  Installation art

3.  No entry may exceed 48 inches in its greatest dimension. All measurements
     will include the base.

Note:  Ribbon entries must not be sold or promised at the time of Judging.

Traditional carvings

1.  carved in the tribal traditions of the artist(s)
2.  use of traditional materials
3.  Type of wood must be disclosed
    Allowed: 

• Mineral pigments
• Tempera paints
• Fabric clothing

 
 Contemporary Carvings

1.  Carved using innovative materials and techniques
     Allowed:

• Mineral Pigments
• Tempera paints
• Fabric Clothing
• Acrylic Paints
• Oil paint
• Pigments that use wood preservative
• Finishes can include but are not limited to:

           Varnished/Oiled
           Unpainted
           Paint over oil-stained wood
 
Techniques and Tools- All categories

• Hand tools
• Dremel tools
• Wood-burning tools

 
ALLOWED WITH DISCLOSURE

      All decorative elements must be properly identified and meet market standards
      Examples:  Stone, Shell, Metal elements, Beads of glass, shell or metal

NOT ALLOWED 

•  Plastics for decorate elements, i.e. feathers, beads, netting
•  Manufactured carvings or stands

 
NOTE:  The inclusion of feathers must comply with all State and Federal regulations

Judging in this classification will evaluate the source and quality of materials used, as well as the combination of form, design and technique

ALLOWED

Materials: Both in Traditional and Contemporary Categories

• Purchased Glass Beads
• Commercially processed hides
• Traditionally processed hides

ALLOWED WITH DISCLOSURE

     Materials

• Nickel and Brass beads not made by the artist
• Rhinestones
• Commercially produced objects that are transformed by the hand application of beadwork or quill work

           Examples:  Tennis shoes, bottles, hats

• Findings:

           Defined as “an ingredient part of the process that adapts it for wear or use”
           Examples include but not limited to:
           Jump rings, Earring backs, Clasps, Barrette clips, Money Clips, Hooks and eyes,          
           Single bead/cone combination to finish ends (for shell and beadmakers)
 
NOT ALLOWED

Materials

•  Manufactured or die struck metal charms, buttons or conchos
•  Used for ornamental purposes
•  Commercially beaded and manufactured items
• Plastic or synthetic materials

           Examples:  Beads, buttons, Hair, Hairpipe, Polymer clay (e.g. Sculpey)

Traditional:   The intent is to recognize those artists that work with traditional materials, forms, designs and techniques

Contemporary:  the intent is to encourage the use of innovative materials and techniques.

Judges will evaluate all materials and design elements

ALLOWED

Materials
1.  Materials derived from plants

• Must be within the tribal traditions of the artist
• Must be processed by the artist
  Examples:  Willow, Redbud, Fern, Yucca, Devil’s claw, Split ash, Sweet grass

2. Natural Dyes
 
ALLOWED WITH DISCLOSURE

Materials
1.  Purchased plant fiber materials must still be processed by the artist
2.  Plant materials outside of tribal traditions.
3.  Unconventional plant, animal, and commercial materials are allowed but must be identified.
     i.e.  horsehair, yarn, threads, metal, wire,
4.  Commercial dyes
5.  Decorative components made by others
 
NOT ALLOWED
​
Commercially made baskets

Note:  Ribbon entries must not be sold or promised at the time of Judging.

Traditional:  description:  Moccasins, drums, fans, dance regalia, flint-knapping and cultural objects that are functional and/or intended as functional in their original state, though now used for display. 
 
Allowed

1.  Materials allowed in both contemporary and traditional categories

• Components of a piece not made by the artist such as buttons, charms, jingles, lids

2.  Techniques and tools in both contemporary and traditional categories

• Hand-processed hides
• Handmade items
• Sewing-machine work

3.  All materials as described under beadwork and quillwork classification

Allowed with Disclosure

1.  Decorative items that are compliant with jewelry standards
2.  Findings
3.  Commercially processed hides and rawhide
4.  Chip inlay that complies with jewelry standards
5.  Historical elements such as mirrors, German silver, with historical/traditional accuracy
 
Not Allowed

1.  Manufactured or die-struck charms, buttons, conchos, etc except for those used as historical pieces from traditional sources  
2.  Plastic or synthetic parts, e.i., Beads, plastic hairpipe, etc.
3.  Liquid embroidery, iron on appliques, items made from a kit of any kind
 
Note:  All sewn items and/or clothing must be made by the artist and labeled as such
 
Note:  Ribbon entries must NOT be sold or promised at the time of Judging.