Hand-carved puppet is best of show at Indian fair

PHOENIX, Ariz. — “Coyote as Champion,” a hand-carved wooden puppet carved in traditional Northwest Coast style and sporting authentic Southern Plains regalia won the coveted Best of Show Award at the 52nd Annual Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market on Friday, March 5. The artists, husband and wife Ed Archie NoiseCat, Salish-Shuswap/Lil'wat, and Jhane Myers-NoiseCat, Comanche/Blackfeet, were thrilled to receive top honors at the Fair. The piece, which is more than two feet tall, was completed literally hours before the couple left their Santa Fe home for the competition. The sculpture is carved from poplar and is fully reticulated and operable.