ThirTeen naTive jewelers give back To swaia — again beads that connect all 10 pendants and the naja — enlarged the holes in the beads, completing his effort to bring the work of 13 artist friends together. With a breaking load of 480 pounds, the cable will easily support the weight of the beads and pendants. “It looks like you guys put your heart in it,” he said, “and it is just awesome to see it all together. Thank you.”
By Hana Crawford Metalsmith Kenneth Johnson tells the story: “It was 1997. Sunshine Reeves got Best of Show for his stamped silver tea set, and he wanted to do something for SWAIA.” That was the genesis of the first collaborative project organized by Indian Market artists — a concho belt auctioned off at the SWAIA Gala in 2001. Daniel “Sunshine” Reeves — whose name refers to the sun-tinted hair he had as a child — recalled asking a group of SWAIA artists to come together for a good cause in 2001. “In those days, SWAIA was facing hard times,” he said. “For a lot of artists, Indian Market really starts your career. I wanted to make sure SWAIA could keep on giving people those opportunities.” The innovative work raised a groundbreaking $42,000 — surprising artists, staff and board members alike — and started a tradition of unique collaborations that continue to bring national attention to market artists and SWAIA’s annual fundraising event. This year Johnson was one of 13 acclaimed jewelers — including five of the original concho belt collaborators — who worked together to create another unique piece. In June, eight of the jewelers gathered at Pat Pruitt’s design studio in Paguate, New Mexico — one of the six villages of Laguna Pueblo, 116 miles southwest of Santa Fe — to assemble their donation, a squash blossom-inspired Friendship Necklace to be sold at the 2012 Indian Market Live Auction Gala on Saturday evening, August 18. Eight men, joined by a few invited SWAIA staff, passed 60 sterling
Thanks To The 13
PHOTOS TAILINH AGOyO
From left to right, Myron Panteah, Daniel “Sunshine” Reeves, Allen Aragon, Pat Pruitt, Chris Pruitt, Ken Romero, Kenneth Johnson, Cody Sanderson
silver beads, 10 pendants, a naja (the centerpiece, or base of the necklace) and a clasp around Pruitt’s kitchen table, admiring Grade 5 titanium next to sterling silver and Fox, Blue Gem, Tiffany and Sleeping Beauty turquoise. The pendants had been stamped, cast, oxidized and inlaid. One, by Myron Panteah, was reversible. Allen Aragon had used cloisonné technique for his pendant, the only enameled piece in the necklace. “Its always a fun time, getting to see how other artists have specialized in what it is they do,” Pruitt observed. “I get to learn certain tips and tricks that are often overlooked … not to mention the friendship that is built by doing this work together.” His pendant incorporates Fox turquoise, Grade 5 titanium, and
the shapes of cast tufa belt buckles and kehtos, or bow guards. Eyes wide, Johnson picked up The Four Seasons of Mother Earth by Ken Romero, a pendant inlaid with 140 tiny stones of Sleeping Beauty turquoise, and held it inches from his nose, counting. Vernon Haskie, who contributed the naja, noted that it was “definitely a one-ofa-kind piece and … very extraordinary.” He was also pleased that two female jewelers, although not present for the assembly, participated in the collaboration. “Liz Wallace was the first one out of the gate,” Johnson said. Positioning himself at a drill, surrounded by his friends and collaborators, Reeves — who fashioned the 60 sterling silver
The 13 select jewelers who created the Friendship Necklace — Sunshine Reeves (Diné), Kenneth Johnson (Muscogee/ Seminole), Vernon Haskie (Diné), Arland Ben (Diné), Myron Panteah (Diné/ Zuni Pueblo), Ken Romero (Laguna/ Taos Pueblo), Allen Aragon (Diné), Liz Wallace (Diné), Dawn Wallace (Aleut), Chris Pruitt (Laguna Pueblo), Pat Pruitt (Laguna Pueblo), Tony Abeyta (Diné), and Cody Sanderson (Diné) — represent the best of Native art and metalwork today. Individually, they are recipients of highly selective Smithsonian Institution and SWAIA fellowships, and Best of Show and Best of Classification awards from the Santa Fe Indian Market. Their work is displayed in private collections and worldrenowned museums. See photos and a video of the one-ofa-kind Friendship Necklace on SWAIA’s auction page (www.santafeindianmarket. com). Bid on the necklace during Indian Market Week at the 2012 SWAIA Live Auction Gala on Saturday, August 18. Absentee bids will be accepted from August 1 through 5 p.m. on August 15. For more information, visit www.santafeindianmarket.com.
From left, Ken Romero, Pat Pruitt, Kenneth Johnson, Cody Sanderson
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