Southwestern Souvenirs

And if you want to feel conscious and unconscious understanding of nature and creation, watch a master silversmith at work. We visited Orville Tsinnie at his workshop in Shiprock, New Mexico, as part of our research for our upcoming book Southwestern Indian Rings. When writing a book for collectors, educating them on the actual process of construction is of paramount importance.

Orville is a excellent choice for this. He’s been making jewelry, including rings, since 1973. Self-taught, he has also helped train many other younger artists. His pieces follow the older style of Navajo jewelry, shaped with a respect for the power of the metal of the moon and the stones of sky and earth.

Orville Tsinnie at his workbench, in Shiprock, NM.

Next month, Tsinnie and hundreds of other Indian artists will be on the Santa Fe Plaza for the SWAIA annual Indian Market. This event is always held on the third weekend in August, and attracts a massive crowd of enthusiasts, tourists, curious consumers, and crazed collectors. We’ll begin a series of posts related to comfortably handling this arts market and deriving the best experience possible.

A week of sunny 70 degree plus weather led up to the annual Heard Fair on Saturday and Sunday, March 6 and 7. Crowds at the Thursday Evening Artwalk in Scottsdale showed that collectors had turned out in full force. The buzz around those in the Indian arts business has been that high end arts continue to do well, while other categories are susceptible to the chill of recession-wary buyers.

I saw some evidence of this at Saturday’s Fair. There were a large number of artists in all areas, and many had brought less pricey goods than in previous years. Despite this, some admirable artists did not seem to be moving their merchandise. On the other hand, a good number of popular artists appeared to be doing a brisk business. Many artists seemed to be working with new styles, and the recession does not seem to have hampered individual creativity.

Inside one of the main tents at the Heard Guild Fair and Indian Market.

I was looking almost wholly at jewelry. Raymond Yazzie had won Best of Show for jewelry for a magnificent ring. I take this as a good omen and indeed, there were lovely rings to be found all over, from Jennifer Medina’s modern silver feather fabrications to Rodney Coriz’s shell and abalone Pueblo cross finger rings. Fine offerings were to be had at the booths of Jimmie Harrison, Orville Tsinnie, Kee Yazzie, and Melanie Kirk-Lente, among others. For avant-garde works, Veronica Poblano and the Gaussoin brothers, David and Wayne, had baubles to delight. Good gold and silver bands were on view at Norbert Peshlakai’s booth.