Artist Bios
Alice Quam
Zuni. Alice learned her craft from her parents, Wayne and Doris Ondelacy, who are well known for their cluster jewelry from the 1930's to 1950's. Alice is known for her fabulous cluster work and has won many awards. She has been featured in magazines, galleries and museums. Her work is sought after by collectors worldwide. She is the mother of Lorraine Waatsa, Alvina Quam, Shirley Quam, Wayne Quam and Elgin Quam.
Ben and Angeline Touchine
Navajo. Well known artist who lives outside Gallup, New Mexico. He and his wife Angeline create fine quality jewelry, both in stone work as well as inlay. Their daughter Vangie is also following in her parents' footsteps and is producing some wonderful pieces.
Benson Ration
Navajo. Born March 21, 1955, on the Canoncito Navajo Reservation in New Mexico to Frances and John Ration. Benson grew up watching his father make jewelry, and by age eleven, was making his first pieces. His father told him that no matter what else he did with his life he would always have silversmithing to fall back on. Throughout his childhood, Benson was a talented artist. After he graduated from high school, he enrolled in a one-year program at U.S. Silkscreen and Graphics School in Scottsdale, Arizona. Upon completion of the course he worked for three years as a silk screener and graphics designer. In 1978, he "fell back" on the art of silversmithing. With a look and style that he developed as a graphics designer, he began making three-dimensional figures in silver. He became inspired to make three-dimensional spiritual beings like those found in ancient rock art. His many wearable art designs include Kachina figures, Southwestern animals, feathers and Navajo inspired geometric patterns. When asked how he comes up with his designs, he says, "I remember what I see and make pieces in my mind." Benson is considered by many as one of the greatest contemporary Indian jewelry silversmiths of our time. His jewelry is collected by collectors and enthusiasts all across the world.
Beverly Etsate
Zuni. Is the mother of Carl Etsate, fetish carver, and the daughter of famed Zuni artists Rosalie and Augustine Pinto. Bev continues her parents' tradition of inlay jewelry and has become recognized for her style of raised, mosaic inlay jewelry. Her favorite designs are kachinas, mudheads and bears.
Bobby and Corraine Shack
Zuni. Bobby and Corraine are probably best known for their hummingbird necklace. However their other work is exquisite. They sign their work B.& C.Shack.
Dickie and Amy Quandelacy
Zuni. Both have been creating beautiful work for approximately 30 years. They have some very unusual designs. When they were working together they signed their work, D.& A.Q.
Effie Calavaza
Effie is from Zuni, New Mexico. She incorporates large stones and snake designs in her work, using both turquoise and coral. The majority of the work she does is cast. In 1956 Effie began silversmithing which she learned from her husband, Juan Calavaza, who is now deceased (ca. 1970). Effie shared Juan's mark, JUAN C. ZUNI until his death. After his death, Effie marks her work, EFFIE C. ZUNI. This hallmark is still used by Effie and her three daughters. Over the years, her daughters, Georgiana Yatsattie, Gloria Jean Garcia and Susie Calavaza, have assisted Effie in jewelry making. Despite many rumors, Effie is still making jewelry to this day. Effie's work is collected throughout the world.
Ernest Benally
Navajo. Born in 1959. Ernest works in both silver and gold and is also an excellent lapidary. He is known for his mosaic inlay jewelry and has won top awards for his jewelry. He is considered to be one of the best Navajo jewelers.
Ervin Tsosie
Navajo. Ervin was born September 1, 1970 and is the brother of Irving Tsosie. Ervin is known for his intricate, mosaic and channel inlay jewelry. He has won many awards for his work.
Freddy Charley
Navajo. Self-taught silversmith who learned from buffing. Married with 3 children.
Fritson Toledo
Navajo. Born in 1961, in Cuba, New Mexico. Fritson started working with silver in 1976. He is a self-taught silversmith who works both in silver and gold. Fritson creates hand-fabricated, heavy stamp work jewelry like that of Navajos a century ago. He has worked with Les Baker for 22 years and has won many awards for his work.
Harry Sandoval
Navajo. Born 1943 in Canoncito, New Mexico. Harry is a self-taught silversmith and has worked as a silversmith since he was 25 years old. He has worked with Les Baker for 15 years.
Les Baker
Anglo, born in 1935. Les learned to silversmith in 1962. He has a successful jewelry business where he works along side of Native American artists who design his style of jewelry. Les on occasion will also make pieces as he is an accomplished silversmith. The jewelry he produces has a distinctive flair which we call a " flowing design." Our family has worked with Les for over 20 years and we consider Les and his wife Shirley to be close friends. Some of the artists who work with Les are Fritson Toledo, Johnny Watson and Harry Sandoval.
Lucy Cayatineto, Navajo – (In her own words.)
I lived in Gallup New Mexico and learned to make jewelry from my Mom who made jewelry for 25 years until she had to quit because of health problems. When I was 15 years old I started soldering pieces together. When I was 18 years old I started carving little fetishes. Then when I turned 20 years old I started inlaying jewelry.
I started out with big pieces and went to more designs as I gained experience. I like to mix stones to make the jewelry look very colorful and to make my jewelry go with many different outfits. I am Navajo and live in Zuni. I like to make different jewelry that no one else has designed. I have 3 girls and two of my girls are actually interested in making jewelry and that makes me happy.
Ted Miller
Miami-Peoria-Cherokee. Ted has won over fifty significant awards. His carvings are images of his heritage and culture of stores passed down. For the discriminating collector, the work of Ted Miller offers the ultimate in arts acquisition - beauty and history skillfully meshed with utility. Both the handles and blades of his knives are expertly handcrafted to combine beauty with strength. Made of 440C stainless steel, 56-60 Rockwell, and shed stag antler enhanced with semiprecious stones.
Tommy Singer
Navajo. Born in 1940 and is from Winslow, Arizona. He grew up in a small community of Dilcon on the Navajo Reservation. Tommy uses sterling silver and turquoise to create artistic expressions of Navajo traditional ways. Tommy states, "I make jewelry out of silver. Every piece is made with the meanings from my traditional ways - the Navajo way of living. My father was a silversmith. He taught me and wanted me to continue this trade. It was my father's dream that I learn to silversmith so that I can continue his belief." In the 1960's, Tommy became famous for inventing the use of turquoise and coral chips in silverwork. This method of design is referred to as "chip-inlay." This invention was so successful that many Navajo craftsmen copy the method and every Indian jewelry store carry some form of chip-inlay. Tommy's work is well known internationally. His work is featured in a number of Indian art publications. One can easily recognize Tommy's work. He signs his finished pieces with "T. Singer" or with a "T and a crescent moon." Whether Tommy creates a bolo tie, buckle, ring or bracelet, he states that, "All my jewelry are made to satisfy my customer. Each piece is unique and is made very different. I try hard to make different styles and designs of my jewelry." Today, he and his family also make traditional heavy stamp work and overlay jewelry. His overlay pieces incorporate the most traditional of Navajo design - designs that have endured for years and years. Many of these designs are of Navajo rugs and other traditional designs.
Vangie Touchine
Navajo. Daughter of Ben and Angeline Touchine. Now making jewelry on her own with a dinstinctive style.
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