Back for its 10th year, the annual Navajo Rug Auction on Saturday, June 11, 2011 at the Autry in Griffith Park (next to Los Angeles Zoo) provides an opportunity to obtain collectible art made in America. Prices range from around $100 to 10,000 on rugs that are hand-crafted from start to finish. From shearing the sheep to weaving the wool into beautiful, collector items made in a tradition passed from one generation to the next, the Navajo rugs are one of a kind. This tradition began in the 1860s when Navajos were forced from their homes and relocated to Fort Sumner in southern New Mexico. Women began teaching their daughters the rug crafting tradition as a way to retain their heritage, dignity, and to earn money after their homes were seized. This tradition continues today with beautiful rugs that are sometimes simple and contemporary, or intricate and filled with native designs that offer meaning.

The event on June 11 from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. is free admission and includes a walk-through at 12:30 p.m. by the auction's supplier, Jackson Clark, Toh-Atin Gallery - Durango, Colorado. He will discuss each rug for sale. Location: Autry National Center (Autry Museum), 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles, CA. Call: (323) 667-2000 theautry.org