The elegance of the cross. A Native American jewelry tradition

We have just emailed a notice to those who have signed up to hear from us announcing a sale on Native American cross pendants.

The cross pendant is an interesting object of Native American jewelry. Of the many abstract and representational creations by Zuni and Navajo jewelry artists, the crucifix inherently extends to both traditional Native American culture and predominantly Christian European culture.

The cross came into the Native American culture through the influence of Spanish Catholic explorers and religious authorities. As they moved through the Indian territories of the Southwest, they spread the gospel, converting thousands of Natives to Christian beliefs. At least, they convinced the Indians that it was economically and socially wise to add Christian symbols and ceremonies to their traditions, even if they weren't "true believers."

Over generations, Native Americans absorbed christian theology and blended it with their native tribal religions. Mission churches did not replace kivas, but they certainly assumed a place alongside them.

It was natural then that the development of silver work and lapidary by talented Navajo, Zuni and other tribal jewelry artisans would be expressed in crosses to be worn as pendants. Today, designs vary while retaining substantial fidelity to the basic crucifix form. They have been created in gold and silver (less gold these days, given the expense of that medium). They have been studded with cabuchons of turquoise, lapis, shell, coral and other semi-precious stones. They have included delicate inlay and channel work with the same stones.

The result is a bounty of jewelry possibilities, all of which permit and encourage the faithful to display their Christian beliefs while making statements of beauty and taste. Of additional interest is the fact that many, many authentic Native American cross pendants, while elegant and attractive are surprisingly inexpensive to give and wear.

Now, until Easter 2012, we are offering a 10% discount on all our Navajo crosses and Zuni crosses. Simply use the code "faith" when you order on line or by phone (800-305-0185) 10% will be deducted from the listed price.

Thank you and Happy Easter.

PS: We don't intend to offend our Jewish adherents. There are many non-Christian Native American designs that will make wonderful additions to the Native American jewelry wardrobe of people of all faiths. But the relationship between traditional Native American culture and Christian beliefs is a fact, and can't be ignored.

Are you buying phony art and pottery?

The Art Media Agency reports that Italian authorities have broken up an art counterfeiting gang. They were making replicas of Greek and Etruscan antiquities and selling them to collectors at "real" prices.

The authenticity "credentials" were being altered by a hospital employee with access to x-ray machines to falsify dating results. Hundreds of thousands of Euros were involved, along with victims who should have known better. They say, in fact, that it was one collector's suspicions about the surge of previously undiscovered work being offered that triggered an investigation.

The moral is to question everything. And remember your best defense and assurance of authenticity is a reputable dealer who will stand behind what you buy from him.

Just for laughs.

A friend sent this to me. Actually, several friends sent it to me. In fact, if you've seen it before, I can only say that didn't know you were going to be there. So few people go there. To avoid being in consistent, I have added a few places I have been too.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have been in many places, but I've never been in Cahoots. Apparently, you can't go alone. You have to be in Cahoots with someone.

I've also never been in Cognito. I hear no one recognizes you there.

I have, however, been in Sane. They don't have an airport; you have to be driven there. I have made several trips there, thanks to my friends, family and work. I live close so it's a short drive.

I would like to go to Conclusions, but you have to jump, and I'm not too much on physical activity anymore.

I have also been in Doubt. That is a sad place to go, and I try not to visit there too often.

I was in Jury. There were six of us there at the time.

I've been in Flexible, but only when it was very important to stand firm.

Sometimes I'm in Capable, and I go there more often as I'm getting older.

One of my favorite places to be is in Suspense! It really gets the adrenaline flowing and pumps up the old heart! At my age I need all the stimuli I can get!

And, sometimes I think I am in Vincible but life shows me I am not.

I have been in Discreet, but you are the only one I am telling that to.

I believe I also have been in Definite. I'm a little vague about it.

People keep telling me I'm in Denial but I'm positive I've never been there before!

I have been in Deeps**t many times; the older I get, the easier it is to get there. I actually kind of enjoy it there.

So far, I haven't been in Continent; but my travel agent (the doctor) says I'll be going soon.

If you have found this an "in" joyable read, why not leave a comment?

The State of Santa Fe art

Mixed reviews on the state of the art market in Santa Fe, from the Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper.

Bloom or Bust?
Jury's out on state of Santa Fe art market
by Tom Sharpe

"While some gallery owners have seen signs of life in the art market, others say City Different scene is getting stale."

Our comment -
The overall art market in Santa Fe includes Native American art as a component.
But that component is not covered in the article.

So, dealers in Native American art and other tribal art. What say you?

You may remain anonymous. But your opinion is valued.

If you are in the Bay Area, here's nice way to catch up on tribal art. Why not comment with a review if you attend? The San Francisco Tribal & Textile Arts Show Fine Art of Native Cultures SHOW LOCATION Fort Mason Center – Festival Pavilion Marina Blvd, San Francisco, CA DATES & TIMES SHOW DATES February 10th - 12th, 2012 SHOW HOURS FRIDAY, February 10th, 2012 11am - 7pm SATURDAY, February 11th 11am - 7pm SUNDAY, February 12th 11am - 5pm No Admittance after 4:30pm Public parking within Fort Mason complex SHOW ADMISSION $15 Includes illustrated colour catalogue Hat tip to: CASSERA - ARTS PREMIERS Booth B21

Where did the time go?

It's been more than a month since my last posting. Shameful. I don't blame anyone who has given up on Tribal Artery. But I promise to get back into writing it.

The moral of the tale is "don't let the time slip away when something important needs to be done." A case in point. Valentine's Day is a week away. If you have not gotten something special for your beloved, you will regret it. Trust me.

There still is time. Not much. But if we get your order by tomorrow, we can ship in time for arrival before the big day.

We have some beautiful heart pendants, in particular. They are fairly priced and we will take 20% off the low price.

Love make the world go around. And it also makes the woman happy.

PS: If you have a minute, and you use facebook, we would appreciate a like on our facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/NavtiveAmericanJewelry

Happy New Year

The time has come. We are just hours away from 2012. Time to wish all our friends the best for the coming year.

We hope you will find a place in your calendar to visit our websites and see what has been added in African Tribal Art, Native American jewelry, Native American Pueblo Pottery, Zuni fetish carvings and Arctic/Inuit art. We also have some "vintage" Australian Aboriginal art.

In any event, may your coming year be filled with the happiness of family, the prosperity of positive thoughts and the fascinations of tribal art

Susanne and William Waites

Here we go again - stolen art

The Antique Tribal Art Dealers Association reports another theft of Native American art.
See more here -http://www.atada.org/theft.html#moses2-11
If these items cross your path from someone trying to resell them, they are stolen goods. Possession of stolen goods is a Federal offense. Please notify the authorities.

Aboriginals Gallery thanks you.

A Holiday Wish

All of us at Aboriginals; Art of the First Person, and our websites: TribalWorks, Native-American-Jewelry, Native-PotteryLink and ZuniLink wish you a splendid Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year. May 2012 be even better than we wish for.

Another ATADA Theft Alert

Antique Tribal Art Dealers Association has announced another threat alert.

This time it is for three items of Navajo jewelry stolen from a Santa Fe Gallery. View this alert at http://www.ATADA.com/theft.html#swift11.

If you encounter any of these items from resellers or at auctions, please report it ot the authorities. Possessing stolen property is a federal crime without a statute of limitation.

This message is brought to you by Native-American-Jewelry.org , a member of ATADA.

Will it get there in time?

That's a question we get a lot of at this time of year.

Folks buying gifts on line want some assurance that their purchase will arrive before Christmas.

Here are some guidelines.

USPS Priority gets delivered in 2 to 3 days. If you are shipping from one coast to the other, count on three days. USPS has announced that the last day for shipping to arrive pre-Christmas is December 21. If you want to track your shipment, there is a very small surcharge for a tracking number. Insurance also can be purchased, depending n the value of the package. You still might want to purchase a tracking number, because it one is not included with insurance.

UPS promises deliver in 5 to 7 days. UPS is more expensive but often a better service large or heavy packages.

And, of course, there always is FedEx. FedEx will deliver overnight. But you will pay for it.

Less than a week to save 25% on Native American jewelry

Just as certain as Thanksgiving is this Thursday, this Saturday is November 26. That's the last day for the gigantic 25% off sale on all Native American Jewelry at http://www.Native-American-Jewelery.org

Everything in our completely authentic, top quality inventory is on sale at 25% off. The prices before the sale were 25% higher and they will be again when the sale ends.

Order now, save, and we can ship so you will receive your purchase in 3 to 5 days. Plenty of time for Christmas.

PS: If for some reason, your order form doesn't submit (computers do have glitches) call us at 1-800-305-0185 and we will take your order on the phone.

PS: Please follow us on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/NativeAmericanJewelry
Click on "like" to show you like to hear from us and you'll receive regular postings about news and new offers. Thank you.

Christmas Sale on Native American Jewelry

As the Christmas holiday approaches at what appears to be break-neck speed, Native American Jewelry .org is announcing a major sale. Now through November 26, please take 25% off every item of Native American Jewelry you purchase from the web site.

Shopping is easy. Simply scroll through the dozens of pages, find the items you like and click on the "Order" button. Complete the order form and enter the code word, "Artery". The 25% discount will be taken when your order is processed.

You also can telephone us toll-free at 800-305-0185 to place your order. Many people prefer this way of ordering. That's fine with us. (We like to hear your voice.) It's also a good idea because, as the sale proceeds, items may be sold before you get to them. A phone call gives us a chance to check our inventory before you order.

We answer the phone between 9 am and 6 pm Eastern Time. Otherwise, leave a message in the voice mail and we will call you back within 24 hours - sooner if possible.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

If you are in Santa Fe during November 26 & 27, mark your calendar for this SWAIA Event. If not, check out the Native American art websites at Native-American-Jewelry.org, Native-PotteryLink.com and ZuniLink.com

2011 Santa Fe
Winter Indian Market




Joy Harjo

Beautiful Artwork and Jewlery for Sale
Artist Demonstrators
Silent Auction
Two Performanaces by Joy Harjo
Raffle Prizes
Fashion Row
Native 101 Lecture

Early Bird Shopping and Native Art 101 Lecture
SWAIA Members Only
Saturday, November 26. 9:00 a.m.
Admission is $5 with a SWAIA Membership
For information on becoming a SWAIA Member, call Denise Keron
(505) 983-5220

Winter Indian Market Hours
Saturday, November 26, 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (General Admission)
Sunday, November 27, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (General Admission)

General Admission is $5 Per Day
Tickets Available at the Door

Tickets and Performance Times for Joy Harjo
$20
Includes Admission into Winter Indian Market
Saturday, November 26, 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 27, 1:00 p.m.
Advance Tickets Available (505) 983-5220

All events will take place at the Santa Fe Convention Center
(201 W. Marcy St. Santa Fe, NM 87501)


Artist Demonstrators

Award Winning Metalsmith
Kenneth Johnson (Muscogee/Seminole) Jeweler

2011 SWAIA Best of Show Winner
Jeremy Frey (Passamaquoddy) Basket Weaver

2011 Best of Classification Winner, Pottery
Jody Naranjo (Santa Clara Pueblo) Potter

2011 SWAIA Residency Fellowship Winner
Ryan Lee Smith (Cherokee/Choctaw) Painter

2011 SWAIA Residency Fellowship Winner
Lisa Hageman Yahgulanaas (Haida) Weaver

One week closer to Christmas

At the risk of being repetitive, we will probably be issuing weekly reminders of the upcoming holiday and the wisdom of thinking about your gift purchases now.

If you have a friend or loved one who is fond of Native American things, our website featuring authentic Navajo jewelry is a great place to browse for a gift that will surprise and delight him or her.

Or consider the wide range of Zuni and other pueblo fetish carvings at our ZuniLink site. There are hundreds to select from. A gift of Zuni fetish culture carries with it a wish for good health and good fortune.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday

Institute of American Indian Arts Practices the Art of Sustainability

(SANTA FE, NM) - The Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) is showing its true color - green. The Institute recently certified two Gold and one Silver LEEDTM (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) buildings on its growing campus.

The achievement of the multiple LEED certifications is no small feat, but it aligns well with IAIA's objective to offer high quality educational programs on a sustainable campus. "It's a high performance building for a higher education campus," Myra Villalobos, LEED Accredited Professional at Dyron Murphy Architects, P.C. said.

It takes a lot of coordination and careful consideration to have a building LEED certified. Since the buildings are constantly in use, each building features smart design strategies to maximize energy efficiency and provide a comfortable working space for students and staff. "An educational facility creates a healthy environment for large groups of people," Dyron Murphy, the architect of the new buildings, said.

LEED is a standardized, point based rating system that determines how sustainable a building is. This system helps to determine building performance and is used as a guide for architects, engineers, and owners to meet sustainability goals. The architecture firm that designed the buildings, Dyron Murphy Architects, P.C., is a native-owned firm dedicated to sustainable design. They work closely with Native American entities throughout the United States to incorporate both LEED principles and native culture into their designs.

Since its establishment in 1962 as an institute for innovative artists and educators, IAIA has offered forward thinking approaches to Native American arts education. In 2000, the institute established its permanent location in Santa Fe, and has since constructed several new buildings. Recent LEED certified buildings include, the Center for Lifelong Education, Science and Technology, and Sculpture and Foundry building. This constitutes 60,000 square feet of new LEED certified art space. The most notable building is the Science and Technology building, featuring a state-of-the-art digital dome theater, new media labs, and conservation/science labs, along with the world-class Museum of Contemporary Native Arts' permanent collection.

Serving as a national center of excellence in contemporary Native arts, IAIA is committed to sustainable growth. In celebration of its recent LEED certification, the campus invites students, staff, and community members to its Open House event on November 4th, 2011 from 4:30 to 6:30pm on the IAIA Campus. The Open House is free and open to the public. There will be refreshments, art displays, guided tours, and demonstrations from students and staff. The campus is located at 83 Avan Nu Po Road in Santa Fe, NM.

This information has been forwarded by Aboriginals Gallery, owners of websites for Native American Pueblo Pottery, Native American jewelry and Zuni fetish carvings. Proud to support the IAIA

In case you hadn't noticed...

We are seeing all kinds of signs that Christmas is coming. (I know. It comes every year.) That tells us it's time to step forward with news about Christmas and Native American art traditions. At Native-PotteryLink.com, we have posted new Pueblo pottery Nativity sets and Native American Santa Claus story tellers.

Now is the best time to acquire one for your home, so you will have time to put it out as part of your Christmas decor and let your family and friends enjoy it before Christmas arrives. If you see something you like, let us know by phone (800-305-0185) or send an inquiry via the form on our website. We look forward to hearing from you.

PS: Don't be reluctant to use the toll-free number. We love to hear your voice.

New Work by Salvador Romero, Cochiti

ZuniLink has added several new carvings by Cochiti carver Salvador Romero.

If you are a fan of Sal's fetish carvings or just curious about what a talented artist can do with rocks and stones he finds on the ground around his Cochiti Pueblo home, visit the web site by clicking the photo below.

Here's a sample.
PS: If you would like to meet Sal personally, via an internet video, here you go

SWAIA salutes Best of Show winner, Jeremy Frey

The 2011 Santa Fe Indian Market Best of Show Winner, Passmaquoddy basket weaver Jeremy Frey, has had an extraordinary year. The 32-year-old Maine resident also won the Best of Show prize at the Heard Museum Indian Fair and Market earlier this year, and it should be noted that he was recently awarded a $50,000 artist grant from the Los Angeles Based organization United States Artists.

The eighth-generation basket weaver may be familiar to Indian Market visitors. Frey was part of the Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance demonstrator’s booth at the 2009 Indian Market. The Alliance is an advocacy and educational organization that Frey has been involved with for years. In fact, Frey learned how to weave baskets from his mother Gal Frey at the age of 22, who was reintroduced to basket weaving at the Alliance. From drawing pictures as a child to his grade school declaration of wanting to be an artist when he grew up, Frey’s gift and skill as a basket weaver have reached a level unparalleled success.

“I’ve been doing it since day one. It seemed that it was what I should have been doing my whole life,” Frey says, “I thought to myself that if was going to be part of a group of basket weavers, then I wanted to do something to set my self apart…not distort the tradition, but refining what was already there.” Indeed, in a time when formal art training abounds, Frey finds inspiration for his sweet grass and black ash baskets from an internal place.

“What I find beautiful comes from within,” he says. Still, Frey is influenced from many sources. His extensive travels and his experiences weaving side-by-side with other basket weavers influence his own designs. Self-described as “traditional/contemporary” he uses locally harvested materials for his baskets, but designed and ultimately used in a different ways.

“There are times when I know what the shape and color are going to be and then I let it go from there…other times I have an exact image in my head of what I want to do.”

Weaving baskets may be, by some measures, a relatively accessible art form and art practice. By comparison, the tools and raw materials can literally grow from the ground until they are harvested and reshaped into something delicate and beautiful. Nevertheless, Jeremy Frey’s Best of Show Award from the Santa Fe Indian Market spotlights basket weaving's vast complexity and difficulty.

The correlation between the basket weaving and the cultural sustainability of his tribe and home cannot be adequately expressed. For a young man in the 21st century to be following a centuries-old practice, his achievement speaks incalculable volumes for all Native people expressing themselves through ancient art forms. "

Thanks to SWAIA for sharing this information

Mary Small, Jemez Pueblo Potter, shares a video moment.

We are very fond of all our artists, carvers, jewelry makers, folk artists and pottery makers.

Mary Small occupies a special place in that group of people we are privileged to call friends.

When we caught up with her at Indian Market this year, she agreed to let us record her on video, so you all could get to know her a little better.

We offer that video now.



We will be posting newly acquired Mary Small pueblo pottery to our web site after Labor Day. In the meantime, there are other pots by Mary Small and other pueblo potters to be seen there.

Enjoy.

PS: If you frequent FaceBook, we would appreciate a "like" on our Native American Pueblo Pottery fanpage. Thank you.