It was with great anticipation that my husband and I set off on a cross-country car trip, our destination being the 2009 Indian Arts & Crafts Association (IACA) spring market in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I had recently become a member of this organization, known for its ethical promotion and protection of authentic Native American art. This was IACA's 35th anniversary and I was looking forward to the opportunity to meet many of the member Native American artists and silversmiths who gather twice a year (in the spring and in the fall) to introduce and sell their work. The first two days of the market were for the trade only, while the final day was open to all IACA members. I was able to meet many Native American artists. The experience was both educational and exhilarating! The selection of fine innovative jewelry was astonishing!
First off, we met Navajo silversmiths, Gene & Martha Jackson, some of whose jewelry is shown in the photo below. Martha and Gene Jackson are Navajo silversmiths from Chinle, Arizona. They have been making beautiful handcrafted sterling silver jewelry since the 1980s. They are featured in many Native American jewelry books and have won many awards.
Next, we wandered over to their son, Tommy Jackson's, booth. Tommy Jackson is one of the best new contemporary Navajo jewelers working today. Tommy learned the basics of silversmithing from his father Gene and began creating jewelry in 1973, and became a full time silversmith in 2002. Prior to that he and his wife Marita, who is also an award winning jeweler, taught elementary school on the Navajo reservation at Wide Ruins, Arizona.
Tommy specializes in inlay and old-style designs using high quality American stones, including Bisbee, Landers, #8 mine, Royston and Blue Gem. A superb craftsman, his bracelets, concho belts, buckles, necklaces and pendants have won numerous awards at the Santa Fe Indian Market, the Heard Museum Indian Shows, and the Gallup Indian Ceremonial.
You can view some of Gene, Martha & Tommy Jackson's jewelry on our website here
I've always had a fondness for sandcast and tufacast silver jewelry, so the jewelry of Ira Custer immediately caught my eye. Ira is a top-prize winning jeweler from a family of silversmiths. He began jewelry making actively in 1990. His background in silver-smithing came from his parents, Benny and Emily Custer and from his grandparents. He specializes in traditional and contemporary tufacast and sandcast jewelry. He is currently using the Tufa stone (volcanic ash) process to cast his silver jewelry. He and his brother have given tufa stone casting demonstrations at the I.A.C.A. market, that unfortunately I missed.
Typically a tufa stone is cut in half, then the design is carved into just one of the interior sides of the tufa stone. After the carving is done, the two halves of the tufa stones are tightly joined with a strip of rubber. A channel is cut from the top of the design, so that the molten silver can flow into the design. The tufa leaves a textured surface on the metal. The piece is then removed from the mold and finished as desired.
Some of the Native American silversmiths that we met at the market and whose jewelry we now have available for sale on our website are :
Shane Hendren
L. Bruce Hodgins
Gene & Martha Jackson
Tommy Jackson
Christopher Nieto
Orville Tsinnie
Everett & Mary Teller
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