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Navajo jewelry maker Julius Keyonnie is the 2009 Southwest Indian Art Fair's featured artist.

Navajo jewelry maker Julius Keyonnie is the 2009 Southwest Indian Art Fair's featured artist.

He along with hundreds of the region's professional American Indian artists will be at the Arizona State Museum this weekend to share and showcase their paintings, jewelry, baskets, rugs and blankets.

The fair will be held at the Arizona State Museum on Feb. 21 and 22.  

Keyonnie began designing contemporary jewelry in 1990, using many techniques including overlay, engraving, fabrication and lapidary. In addition to working in silver, he recently began working with gold, and stones such as lapis, sugilite, opal and coral.

The Arizona State Museum's Southwest Indian Art Fair – now in its 15th year – attracts collectors, buyers and community members alike.

About 200 artists are expected to attend the two-day event, allowing them to sell, showcase and tell stories about their work. The fair runs to 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Feb. 21 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Feb. 22.

"All cultural events have the same purpose – to bring people together for cross-cultural education," said Angelo Joaquin Jr., who coordinates the Arizona State Museum's signature event.

"We want people to walk away enriched by the barriers that are broken down by art, music and food," Joaquin said.

The fair includes judged competitions, granting awards to artists of all ages.

Artists will be on hand to demonstrate how they produce their work and several musicians and dancers will perform during the event.

This year's performers include traditional dancers from the Tohono O'odham Nation; Brid Singing and Dancing by the River from the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and other traditional Southwest performances.

Admission per day is $8 for adults, $3 for children 12 to 16 and children 11 and under is free. Two-day passes are $12. University of Arizona and Pima Community College students are free with school ID.