IAIA | How To Break Jewelry

Check out this article written by a friend of mine (and fellow Darmouthian) Peterson Chee Brossy. The article is titled "How To Break Jewelry" and was published in the IAIA Chronicle, the official online newspaper for and by the students of the Institute of American Indian Arts.

The article takes a look at jewelry made by IAIA students; and Brossy features one student, Brian Fleetwood (Creek) who combines biology, science and art in his jewelry creations.

Brossy writes:
"The popular market for Native jewelry has an unofficial definition of what it should be: it has to be silver, turquoise, with southwestern motifs, like concho belts with geometric “tribal” designs, squash blossom necklaces. But there’s also a push from Native jewelers to broaden its scope. Experimentation isn’t always rewarded—neither by the market, or by critics, be they Native or not.

Fleetwood butts against convention whenever he sits down to make a piece. “Pan-Indianism really gets on my nerves,” he says, taking a break from the silver honeycomb and leaning back in his chair. “I think it’s important to recognize the distinct cultures within that—it’s not just one homogenous thing. Nothing against Southwestern jewelry, but that’s not all there is. People get accused of, ‘Oh, that’s not Indian jewelry’ if they do their own thing.”

This is jewelry. It is not “wearable sculpture” or “architecture for the body” or anything else but jewelry. At least, this is the case Fleetwood and IAIA jewelry instructor Mark Herndon are making: We shouldn’t have to feel the need to qualify jewelry with sculpture, or architecture, to raise its status when we see a piece we like—jewelry is an art of its own, as is sculpture, painting, drawing. To erase any idea that it is a “low art” is to open jewelry up to what it can be."

Read the entire article and view more images by clicking here.

Holiday Shopping Guide: Support Native Artists and Small Businesses on Etsy

Ok ok ok - everybody is sayin that we should support local artists and small businesses this holiday season; and sometimes it's like, yea, that's a great idea, but just HOW do we do that? Well, I'm going to make it easy for you! Over the next couple of weeks I'll be highlighting some of my favorite items and shops on Etsy.

If you don't know about Etsy, they are, in sum, "the world's handmade marketplace." Their mission is to empower people to change the way the global economy works. They offer a unique sales platform for artists and small businesses (perfect right?), and even better, there are lots of Native artists on Etsy! Rock out.

So recently, I opened up an account so that I can highlight Native artists and jewelry designers. Click here to access my public profile, where you can see my favs.

Here are a couple highlights (again, since this is a fashion blog, I'm focusing on jewelry and accessories gift ideas, but there are many other products for sale on Etsy):

This large beaded barrette was found on the Etsy page of Julia (Shawanaga First Nation Ojibway band), who operates Sparkle and Bead. This cute yellow, white, and purple barrette also has itty bitty little lady bugs on it too, and would make a great gift for a special niece. $80.

I also found this wide pink cuff bracelet with a white leather backing, made by Julia. It would make a cool gift for a teeny bopper (do they still call them teeny boppers?). $30. Other color combinations available. Click here for more info.

Coming from the Comanche Nation of Oklahoma, Ear Reigns (cool name, right?!) sells these colorful hand-beaded earrings. An awesome gift for a girl friend, cousin, or best buddy who is packin' a lot of sass. $20. Click here to find out more.

This cool Bullet Case Necklace comes from Rainey "Nasuġraq" Higbee, an Inupiaq Eskimo artist from the North Slope of Alaska. Higbee and her husband own several different types of firearms, and they pick up the casings after they are fired and turn the 'waste' into some neat accessories. Strung on a black faux leather cord, this brass bullet casing is from a .500 bullet, the world's largest manufactured revolver round. For only $15, you can give this little gem to a guy friend (boy friend?), cousin, or nephew. Heck, this is so badass you know girly girls would like it too. Lock and load.

Also from Salmonberry Dreams, this pendant is made of fossilized walrus ivory. Delicate and permanent scrimshawed Inupiaq Eskimo motifs have been added to the surface. It measures about 1" long and comes on a 19" chain. This is another cool guy gift. Time has turned the outer layer from deep cream to mottled hues of brown and dark blue. How cool is that? Tell your main squeeze it represents your love (through time, we get more beautifuller, ha!). $50.

Higbee says, "I specialize in artwork created from the leftovers of the animals we harvest and rely on for food. Be aware that no other people besides Alaskan Natives are allowed to create pieces of art from walrus ivory, fossil walrus ivory, and polar bear."

Click here to check out their Etsy store Salmonberry Dreams, where you will find many more awesome gift ideas.

Now this is a neat idea that allows you to get a little creative too. This solid copper bracelet can be stamped with your name, someone else's name, or any word or phrase in English, Choctaw or other language. This would be a great for an uncle, or mentor, or, you know what would be cool? Stamp nokomis on this and give it to your grandma. Hey, we all know copper is good for arthritis! $34.

Enrolled in the Choctaw Nation, the artist is also into tradish-style trading! Yes! Lots of other cool jewelry on this shop site, so check it out.

And finally, for your friend, daughter, or cousin who had a baby this year, check out these super cute mocs. This set was made by Nita, an enrolled Alaska Native artist, who her sells her stuff along with her family on the Tots-May-Wee shop site. $60.

Hopefully I can spotlight a variety of artists from different regions who do cool things. I purposefully selected examples that are under $100 because I'm on the poorer side of things. But if you check out the sites, you'll notice that there are higher-end options that these artists offer as well. And finally, let me know if you have a favorite Etsy shop that should be highlighted on here.

Support.

Event | Native Treasures: Indian Arts Festival

The seventh annual Native Treasures: Indian Arts Festival is set for Memorial Day weekend, Friday, May 27 through Sunday, May 29, 2011 at the Santa Fe Convention Center. More than 200 museum-quality artists from over 40 tribes and pueblos will showcase and sell their pottery, jewelry, glass, painting, sculpture, carvings, textiles and other art.

This year's show includes fashion designers Dorothy Grant and Penny Singer, beadworkers Orlando Dugi, Craig Kelly, and Ken Williams, and 76 jewelry designers including Keri Ataumbi, Fritz Casuse, the Gaussoins, Pat Pruitt, and Cody Sanderson.



Penny Singer is a Dine (Navajo) fashion designer. She was one of the invited artists at the 2010 Native Treasures show in Santa Fe. Paul Niemi of Uncle Paulie's World had the opportunity to talk with Penny about her fashion and influences. For more information, visit www.pennysinger.com

Event | Indigenous Bling

One of the few objects that retains (if not expands) its value over time- you can never go wrong with some Indigenous bling!

This event, held at the Museum of Contemporary Native Arts in Santa Fe features jewelry by Shawn Bluejacket, Keri Ataumbi, Cippy CrazyHorse, Angie Reano-Owen, Jennifer Smith, Chris Pruitt, Duane Maktima, Marguerite Houle, and Paul Moore. The jewelry extravaganza will spotlight his-and-her combinations of bracelets and buckles.

Many Native fashion designers have been influenced by jewelers (Charles Loloma's color combinations provide great inspiration!), and jewelers have undoubtedly been influenced by the Native and non-Native fashion worlds. Check out this event to see the latest in Native bling.


Event Information:
Indigenous Bling
Jewelry Extravaganza!

Start Time: Friday, November 6, 2009 at 10:00am
End Time: Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 5:00pm
Location: Museum of Contemporary Native Arts
Street: 108 Cathedral Place
City/Town: Santa Fe, NM
Phone: 5059831666
Email: mohnesorgen@iaia.edu