Western art is truly one of the most vast and varied genres in the art world. While painters and sculptors undoubtedly make a massive impact upon the sphere of collecting, so do all of the jewelry artists, leatherworkers, silversmiths, potters, printers, weavers and more. While their artwork may be wildly different in nature, all of these artists have something in common: a dedication to their craft that elevates their work beyond mere items, and into works of art. So this holiday season, as you ponder what to give the Western art lover in your life, let us help you out. Enjoy perusing the variety of treasures throughout this December 2022 Holiday Gift Guide!
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JENNIFER JESSE SMITH JEWELRY at The Nambe Trading Post
www.nambetradingpost.com
20 Summer Road, Santa Fe, NM 87506
Jennifer Jesse Smith marries traditional metalsmithing with her Northern Plains symbolism, creating wearable sculpture that holds meaning, power and protection. Using natural, untreated turquoise, precious stones, sterling silver and gold in her original designs, Smith offers “a soulful connection to the world we used to live in—a world in which we understood the language of the stones, the trees, the Four Leggeds and the Wingeds.” Discover the artist at her flagship store, the Nambe Trading Post or online at www.nambetradingpost.com. Shown here are Smith’s The Sky Beneath the Earth Turquoise Necklace and Castle Dome Turquoise earrings.
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Cowboys & Indians Antiques
www.cowboysandindiansantiques.com
4000 Central SE, Albuquerque, NM, 87108, (505) 255-4054
Collecting antique and vintage jewelry should be a personal thing, balanced with an eye for quality, beauty and historical context. Collectors are urged to pay attention to how well the items were made and buying from knowledgeable dealers is extremely helpful, notes Cowboys & Indian Antiques. This bracelet features a central turquoise cabochon surrounded by a very fine twisted wire and12 stones set around it on a cuff made of three wire bands. The Navajo concho belt, from around 1950 to 1960, is beautifully made with heavy gauge sterling silver.
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National Museum of Wildlife Art
www.wildlifeart.org
2820 Rungius Road, Jackson, WY 83001, (307) 733-5771
“Collectors will not find comparable baskets anywhere. Diane [Witcher]’s expert weaving technique and artistic eye for the perfect wild materials to incorporate into her designs make each basket a one-of-a-kind work of art. Her baskets reflect the beauty of the rugged Wyoming country,” says Debbie Vassar of the National Museum of Wildlife Art. “I weave reed, locally gathered willows and other natural materials, such as coconut, cane and grass fiber,” Witcher says of her process. “I dye the reeds into different colors to provide even more variety in my original, unique basket designs. Through the years I have become more keen on choosing the time of year and what kind of willows to gather for the most color to incorporate into my baskets. When outdoors, I’m always on the lookout for anything natural to weave into my baskets.”
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ColoradoJo
www.coloradojo.com
colorado.jo.co@gmail.com
ColoradoJo is a curator of Native American jewelry from some of the top silversmiths, including Harry Begay, Sunshine Reeves, Andy Cadman, Delbert Gordon, LaRose Ganadonegro, Matthew Charley and Arnold Blackgoat. Seen here is an example of a sterling cuff with 125 Italian coral rounds and stamp work by Diné silversmith Charley.
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Diana Ferguson
www.dianafergusonjewelry.com
Phoenix, AZ, (262) 374-2984
Diana Ferguson enjoys the elegance of off-loom bead weaving, particularly geometric and architectural beadwork, as seen in a one-of-a-kind brooch. She finds harmony and serenity in the simple movements of stitching and values the way she can fully immerse herself in the creative process as needle passes through beads over and over again. While the end result of her efforts may remain in play until the piece announces itself done, she is certain the outcome will contain beauty. When advising collectors, Ferguson suggests they take the time to delve into not only the past but the present history of beadwork. “There’s a delightful amount of innovation available to discover in contemporary iterations of this age-old art form,” says the artist. Pictured here is Splendiferous, a one-of-a-kind brooch with glass cylinder beads and monofilament thread and hand-blown glass focal.
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Deborah Lujan Photography
www.deborahlujanphotography.com
Taos Pueblo, NM, (575) 741-0974, djlujan@gmail.com
Award-winning photographer Deborah Lujan of Taos Pueblo is inspired by the sublime beauty of her ancestral home. As a tribal member who lives at the historic pueblo, she has a unique perspective of how light and color affect this distinctive architecture. Seen here are holiday cards featuring photography of the iconic Taos Pueblo. They are available per dozen with one image or as a combination of your choosing.
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Tim Blueflint Ramel
www.timblueflint.com
Shades of Rez Studio, (702) 497-7062
timblueflint@shadesofrez.com
Continuing the legacy of fine art flutes and contemporary jewelry, Tim Blueflint Ramel is a citizen of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. Drawing inspiration from his familial stories, historical perspectives and life experiences, Blueflint’s works are highly detailed, infused with care and his creative passion. Beginning with the finest curated exotic and domestic woods, natural and gem-quality stones, he combines and melds multiple art forms to further the evolution of his flutes and contemporary jewelry, creating a unique voice in a complex and convoluted world. Through art, Blueflint strives to provide collectors a connection to tradition and inspire his vision of cultural identity and pride.
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Olva Stewart Pharo
www.olvastewartpharo.com
P.O. Box 625, Cypress, TX 77410
portraits@texhorseman.com
(281) 373-9304
“My uncle put me on his horse when I was 14 months old, and I was captivated for life. I love the beauty and strength of the horse and his willingness to work with us,” says bronze sculptor Olva Stewart Pharo. “Doing portraits and unique pieces, I try to capture that moment forever. I like to say, ‘A bronze is forever.’ It is a piece of artwork that will become an heirloom and be a part of you forever.” Presented here is CAN I COME, TOO?, showing a cowboy and his dog mounted on walnut bases.
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Yonavea Hawkins
www.yonavea.comm
Titled Running Horse II, these bracelets made by Yonavea Hawkins, are made from Czech beads hand-stitched to buckskin. “The beauty of running horses was the inspiration for these beaded cuffs. The design elements and colors on the cuff ends are completely different on each [of them], as are the horses on the center of the cuff,” says Hawkins. Her advice to collectors: “When looking at beadwork, observe whether the stitching is consistent [and] firm, not lax or too tight. Become familiar with bead types and beading techniques. The types and techniques used in creating beadwork give its unique look.”
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Traveler Collection by Mahota Textiles
www.mahotatextiles.com
309 W. Muskogee Avenue, Sulphur, OK 73086, (580) 622-8018
Mahota Textiles is tribally owned by the Chickasaw Nation. Pictured is their Mahli (Wind) blanket measuring 53 by 75 inches and made with 100 percent cotton, commercially woven in the United States. Also pictured from this collection are 18-by-18-inch Mahli (Wind) pillows, made with 81 percent cotton and 19 percent nylon commercially woven fabric, using 100 percent poly fiber faux down pillows and manufactured by Fabric Factory in Oklahoma City. Mahli blows across the blanket as a reminder that change will come, and resilience will always be the way of the Chickasaw people.
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Manitou Galleries
www.manitougalleries.com
123 West Palace Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87501, (505) 986-0440
Manitou Galleries on Palace Avenue in Santa Fe, New Mexico, offers a wide variety of Western and Native American art and artifacts. Pictured here is Rick Terry’s bronze sculpture, Sun and Mesa, edition of 35, measuring at 12 by 10¾ by 4 inches. “The sculpture Sun and Mesa is a nostalgic reflection of some essential elements that, for me, represent the Southwest,” says Terry.
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Michelle Tsosie Sisneros
www.msisneros.artspan.com
m2msisneros@gmail.com
www.michelletsosiesisneros.artspan.com
“[I’m] blending my Puebloan ancestry with modern-day life inspired by my Santa Clara Pueblo culture in my collection of holiday greeting cards, signed prints and wearable arts,” says artist Michelle Tsosie Sisneros. “My creativity is inspired by the people and places where I was raised. The images I paint reflect my Navajo and Pueblo upbringing in the people, spirit animals and landscapes which I incorporate into my textile designs, cards, prints and original paintings. Modern-day assimilation has found its way into my work by balancing a traditional lifestyle with contemporary living by crossing cultural borders. I love today’s technology that allows me to maintain my traditional integrity while living in an ultra-modern world.”
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Mojave Creek
www.mojavecreek.com
mojavecreek@gmail.com
Kristina Atkisson, artist at Mojave Creek Jewelry, is an enrolled member of her tribe Mohawks of Kahnawá:ke. Her work is inspired by her Indigenous roots, as well as her rich heritage in Santa Fe. Her work is handcrafted in Southern California and reflects the Southwest. She mixes her handwoven beadwork with handcrafted silver and mixed metals and carefully selects stones mined in the West. Collectors can explore Atkisson’s beaded earrings with Arizona Kingman turquoise and her “Mixed Metal Red Rock Hoops with New Mexico Tyrone turquoise.” —
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