Native Jewelers Society Workshop

The Heard Museum will host a Native Jewelers Society (NJS) Demonstration Workshop and Emerging Jewelers Market on January 7th, 2017 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Five NJS artists, including Darryl Dean Begay, Philbert Begay, Gene Billie, Ric Charlie, and Ray Scott, will demonstrate various techniques and topics such as: overlay technique, stampwork, fakes and frauds, and more. NJS workshops focus on providing a greater appreciation and understanding of all native jeweler’s skills, techniques, and the time needed to create high quality, hand-made work. These demonstrating artists, along with Roy Tenorio and Tim Herrera, all worked together to create the collaborative silver purse that was donated for the Heard Museum’s 2016 Annual Moondance Fundraiser. In addition, NJS artist, Vernon Begaye was chosen to create the Heard Museum’s 2016 Signature Holiday Ornaments.

The Emerging Jewelers Market will be held simultaneously with the demonstration workshops. This market welcomes upcoming artists of varying traditions, and ages including: Craig Agoodie, Robert Mac Eustace Jones, Nanibaa Beck and two young emerging artists, Robert Begay, age 13, and Mosgaadace Casuse, age 11. Mosgaadace (Moss) has been a Santa Fe Indian Art Market artist since he was 5 years old, and currently works in tufa casting, charcoal casting and lapidary work. Robert, likewise, has created tufa cast pieces for several years and has been showing in Santa Fe markets as well. These young artists are successfully sustaining their culture by carrying on the jewelry traditions that they learned from their parents. They are the younger generation “Keeping Native Culture Alive.”

Native Jewelers Society Participants:
Craig Agoodie – Dinè
Nanibaa Beck – Dinè
Darryl Dean Begay – Dinè
Robert Begay – Dinè
Philbert Begay – Dinè
Rebecca Begay – Dinè
Vern Begaye – Dinè
Ric Charlie – Dinè
Gene Billie – Dinè
Robert Mac Eustace Jones – Zuni and Cochiti Pueblo
Tim Herrera – Cochiti Pueblo
Mosgaadace Casuse – Diné & Fond Du Lac Band of Ojibway (Minnesota Lake Superiior)
Wanesia Spry Misquadace – Fond Du Lac Band of Ojibway (Minnesota Lake Superiior)
Ray Scott – Dinè
Roy Tenorio – San Felipe Pueblo

Learn more about the society at their website: http://www.nativejewelerssociety.com