[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21588]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      RECOGNITION OF THE 65TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INDIAN CRAFT SHOP

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                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, September 9, 2003

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark the 65th anniversary 
of the Indian Craft Shop at the U.S. Department of the Interior. This 
shop is one of Washington, D.C.'s most remarkable sites for Native 
American art enthusiasts. Originally established in order to provide an 
outlet for American Indian artists to market their work, the Indian 
Craft Shop has represented quality and authenticity in American Indian 
arts and crafts in our nation's capital since 1938. Over the years the 
craft shop has developed a national reputation for carrying a diverse 
selection of Native American art.
  Mr. Speaker, thanks to the efforts of places like the Indian Craft 
Shop, American Indian art, in all forms, has never been more alive and 
dynamic. Today, Native American art continues to be one of the most 
gratifying and exciting forms of art to collect. With over 45 Native 
American tribal groups' artwork on display, the Indian Craft Shop 
offers quality artwork to the novice as well as the skilled collector.
  American Indian art combines age-old tradition, innovation and talent 
that results in a wide variety of art for all levels of collecting, 
irrespective of whether you are beginning with a first time purchase or 
have been collecting for years. Craft areas represented in the shop 
include pottery, jewelry, quill and beadwork, kachinas, sculpture, 
weavings, basketry, sandpainting, fetish carvings, Alaskan crafts/
carvings and many other craft items.
  Through its tireless efforts, the Indian Craft Shop has successfully 
built a widespread appreciation for the skill and time involved in the 
crafts and the continuation of artistry through today's generation. 
Without a doubt the shop will continue to play a large role in 
expressing the livelihood of American Indian artisans and in the 
preservation of this country's only indigenous art. Therefore, on this 
day, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the 65th anniversary of 
The Indian Craft Shop.

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