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Artist Information
Artist Information
Navajo Artist Calvin Begay
Calvin Begay is an award winning artist, jeweler, designer and master craftsman. He was born in Gallup, New Mexico in 1965 and raised in Tohatchi, northwestern New Mexico.
Calvin designed his first piece of jewelry at age 10, learning from his mother an uncle. In more than 20 years as a jewelry designer and craftsman, he has become a master in every aspect of the design and manufacturing process. He has won numerous awards at the Gallup Inter Tribal Ceremonial, including Best of Show in 1989. His jewelry has been featured in Arizona Highways and Southwest Art Magazines.
This gifted artist continually innovates and updates his designs, working in both gold and silver, and adding new motifs and stones to his repertoire.
In his leisure time, Calvin participates in rodeos and rides in the back country in his all terrain vehicles. When he creates jewelry, that wild free spirit finds expression in precious metals and stone.
He has a unique ability to translate traditional Navajo inlay techniques into jewelry that reflects his Native American heritage, yet have elegant and contemporary flair. Calvin's work is prized by clients and collectors, not only in the Southwest, but throughout the United Stated and the world. In the artistry of Calvin Begay, the stunning beauty of the untamed West is reflected in the combination of color and design that create unforgettable pieces of wearable art.
Navajo Artist Tommy Singer
Tommy Singer is a World Famous Navajo Silversmith. His distinct style of Indian Jewelry is recognized the world over. Tommy is considered by many as one of the greatest contemporary Indian jewelry silversmiths of our time. His Native American Indian jewelry work is coveted by collectors and enthusiasts alike.
Tommy has been a silversmith for over 28 years. He learned the art of silversmithing from his father when he was just 7 years old. His Father Tsinnigine Hathali was a Navajo Medicine man. Tommy incorporates many traditional sandpainting and rug designs of the Navajo People into his jewelry. Tommy began creating jewelry full-time at the age of 21. His early works were done in the Silver overlay technique. His work soon began to feature Turquoise stones. While working with scrap turquoise chips, Tommy pioneered the technique of Chip inlay used by thousands of artists to this day. For many years Tommy and his brothers created Jewelry using the Chip inlay style. In recent years, Tommy has returned to his roots by creating Exquisite Silver Overlaid Jewelry with intricate designs. His current work often includes 14 Karat Gold Overlaid on Silver. Tommy also carves storyteller scenes with tremendous skill. His carved silver Bead necklaces are also highly sought after.
Zuni Artist Effie Calavaza
Effie Calavaza is from Zuni, New Mexico. She specializes in sand casting and incorporates large stones and snake designs. She began silversmithing in 1956 after learning from her husband, Juan Calavaza. She uses both her husband's and her own designs. Her work is stamped EFFIE C. ZUNI in 1/16 Gothic print. This is the family hallmark used by Effie and her three daughters (she shared her spouse's mark, JUAN C. ZUNI, until his death ca. 1970). 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.
Darrell Cadman
Navajo silversmith Darrell Cadman was born in 1969 in Gallup, New Mexico. He started working with silver in 1992. His brothers Andy and Donovan as well as his half brothers Gary and Sunshine Reeves are all very well known silversmiths. He signs his work "D" or "D Cadman."
Michael Perry
Michael Perry is a young artist with a creative and innovative style. His jewelry combines both the traditional and contemporary.
Michael Perry excels in overlay and tuffa casting silver and gold jewelry. Unique designs and attention to detail make his work stand out from the rest. His artwork is always bold and exciting.
Nora Bill and Emerson Bill
Nora Bill and her husband, Emerson, live near Santa Fe. The Bill Family is well know throughout the southwest and especially in Santa Fe, New Mexico where their pieces are extremely sought after and often fetch a handsome price at the plaza shops & galleries. Emerson Bill and his wife Nora , Navajo are perhaps most well known for their use of heavy hand stamping patterns that produce a unique overlay look that they combine with a satin finish perhaps inspired by finishes often found in Hopi jewelry. The result is a very distinct appearance that sets their work apart from other artists. Another trait of the Bill family is the use extremely heavy gauge silver uncommon in other pieces here in the Southwest. The result is a very bold and solid piece of art that is timeless and will no doubtable be passed from generation to generation.
Albert Jake
Albert Jake was born in 1959 in the Zuni Pueblo south of Gallup, New Mexico. He learned silversmithing from his parents. He specializes in traditional set stones and cluster jewelry with intricate stampwork. He has been smithing since 1987. He also creates sand-paintings and makes pottery. During the summers he works as a forest fire fighter. He lives with his wife and two daughters today in Rahmah, New Mexico, near the Zuni Pueblo.
Edison Yazzie
“Edison Yazzie is one of the most well- known and talented Native American artists in the Southwest. He was born in 1964 to the Black Sheep Clan and Under Folded Arms. Edison’s entire family is also steeped in Navajo artistic tradition. Edison was drawn to the jewelry arts as a youth and has continued to perfect his style of geometric inlay for the last three decades. As a master craftsman, every piece that he creates has a traditional meaning. The colors and designs are carefully chosen to tell a story. Edison has enjoyed teaching other artists and passing on his craft throughout the years, each of which carries on a piece of his personality in their art. Sharing is a very important concept to Edison. He takes great pride in passing on his belief in Navajo tradition. Each piece of his art reflects his personality, cultural heritage, and is a display of his life as a Navajo artist. He continues to create his unique inlay and is still discovering new ways to express himself through his art.”
Guy Hoskie
Guy Hoskie is 54 years old. He resides in Arizona and is married with two sons, both of whom are serving in the armed forces. He has been an amazing silversmith for eighteen to twenty years. He learned from close relatives, the Cadmans and Reeves. He is well known for the quality of his pieces. He uses fine natural turquoise with heavy stamp work.
Andrew Cadman
His father made turquoise necklaces from natural nuggets to sell, but it was his older brother who got him interested in silver work. Phil started to work with silver in junior high school. It was there he learn the basics of jewelry making and crafting. He continued to work on jewelry through out his high school years perfecting his technique. His brother and father instilled in him to always stay true to his culture, and that shows in his jewelry designs where he uses clouds and rain along with other symbols which can also be seen on baskets and pottery from his pueblo.
Phil loves to travel and see different parts of the country. In his travels he has traveled to Canada a number of times. He also likes to go fishing, hunting and just about any activity that gets him outdoors. He speaks a number of Native American pueblo dialects including San Felipe, Santa Domingo, Acoma, Zia, Luguna and Cochiti.
Larson Lee
Navajo Artist Larson Lee was born in 1960 in Lukachukai, AZ on the Navajo Reservation. He is one of 12 children. His Grandfather Joe Lee was a well know silversmith and medicine man. As a small child he traveled across the country dancing at Pow Wows with his Grandfather. Larson used to watch his Grandfather design and create his sterling silver jewelry pieces as a child. Larson later took classes in general silver working techniques. He inherited not only the skills and inspiration from his Grandfather but the tools of his trade when he passed. Larson has designed everything from boot tips to a belt buckle for Bob Hope. His work can be seen in the 1989 issue of National Geographic. He keeps tradition and modern design in mind when he creates individual unique pieces using his native artistic ability.
Tony Garcia
Tony Garcia was born in Laguna, New Mexico, a small Native American village near Albuquerque, New Mexico. As a young man, Tony joined the United States Marine Corp. He served for three years, two of which he was stationed in Japan. Tony began to learn silversmithing by watching his brother-in-law at a young age. He watched him make jewelry and get paid for it. He saw how his brother-in-law used his tools and melted the silver. Then Tony tried it for himself. He melted the solder of tin cans and used it to practice silverwork. At first he made plain bracelets from strips of silver set with a turquoise stone and decorated with stamp designs. His skills increased until he was proficient in most silversmithing techniques. He has made many forms of silverwork that he could sell, from candlesticks and bowls to all types of jewelry. He has used these silversmithing skills for nearly 40 years. Tony's talent and skills combine to create beautiful, unique jewelry. He is a master at creating fascinating jewelry and has made a profound impact on the appreciation of contemporary Southwestern jewelry. Tony and his wife currently live on the Native American Reservation in the village of Tahojiillee, New Mexico. He has three sons and one daughter.
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