Journal
Tufa (also called tuff) is a type of volcanic stone. Massive volcanic explosions send millions of tons of ash into the air, which then settles in layers downwind. Over a long time, these ash layers are compressed into tufa, a light and porous volcanic stone. Tufa has been used by humans for centuries as a […]
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Meet Darryl Dean Begay a Navajo a well known Navajo silversmith living the the Gallup New Mexico area with his wife and kids. Darryl is known for his work with Tufa casting. In this video he introduces himself and his work. Hi, My Name is Darryl Dean Begay, I’m a Navajo jeweler from Roundrock Arizona. […]
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Shumakolowa Shumakolowa is the Zuni word for dragonfly. Pronounced “shoe-mu-koh-low-wa,” the Zuni dragonfly is an iconic symbol often used in fine Native American art. The dragonfly is a sacred creature for many Native tribes in the Southwest. The appearance of a Shumakolowa is often the harbinger of rain or blessings. Sometimes the name is misspelled […]
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12 Native American Jewelry Styles Native American jewelry is a cultural art form dating as far back as 8800 BC. In Nevada, olivella shell thought to date back to 6000 BC has been found. Bone and antler beads from 7000 BC were discovered in Alabama’s Russell Cave and copper jewelry was traded in 3000 BC […]
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My name is Tchin. It’s spelled “ T-C-H-I-N” and I’m from New York. I am Narragansett and Blackfeet. Narragansetts are from Rhode Island and Blackfeet from Canada. I make jewelry, I use our traditional wampum from the North Atlantic, sacred to us Narragansett people and items as natural as I can such as bear claws […]
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