Americana Indian Shows would like to thank all of you for your support. Thanks to you, we are entering our 49th year in business! We look forward to serving you in the new year.
The holiday season for us is always a great time to acquire inventory for the upcoming shows. Many of the artists and their friends were out selling jewelry to help with their holiday shopping. This also gives us the opportunity to visit and catch up on their family life and happenings.
Before Christmas, we bought eight pairs of earrings and several bracelets from Mark Roanhorse Crawford and Alethia Crawford. Their pieces are crafted using the tufa stone-cast method, which Mark learned from multi-award-winning Navajo artist Rick Charley. This work requires expert precision and execution, which Alethia and Mark have mastered. Their work is quite a feat considering that at the same time both are working on their degrees at Northern Arizona University. Alethia’s studies in mechanical engineering seem to have quite an influence on their exquisite designs and craftsmanship. Alton Bedonie and his wife Lillian were also very busy creating gorgeous jewelry. They stopped by with six new men’s and ladies’ rings, two heavy link bracelets, and an outstanding heavy lapis cuff bracelet. Alton also made a nice variety of all silver earrings and, as we go to press, is working on a Sleeping Beauty turquoise necklace for us. Another masterpiece from Alton is a large pendant and wide bracelet both in sterling silver with large gorgeous Bisbee turquoise stones. Mary Tom and her brother Nelson Begay came by just before Christmas with some of their beautiful jewelry, which we couldn’t pass up. From Mary came another stunning flower necklace and earring set with Sleeping Beauty turquoise. Nelson made an incredible bolo tie and a beautiful naja pendant.
We currently have several collections of unique and hard-to-find jewelry. There are 12 pieces of Carl and Irene Clark’s micro mosaic jewelry, a 14kt gold and turquoise bracelet by multi-award-winning Navajo artist Al Nez, a 14kt gold and coral necklace and earring set that took a blue ribbon at the 1996 Gallup Intertribal Ceremonial (also by Al Nez), and a pair of earrings and a bracelet in 14kt gold by Ervin Hoskie. There are several older Zuni needle point bracelets and a mint-condition, 1950s Blue Gem turquoise bracelet as well.
From several buying trips to the Zuni area, we have a great selection of necklaces, rings, and earrings as well as stone and shell inlay bird pins by Ruddell and Nancy Laconsello and Harlan Coonsis. Dale Edaakie made a very nice antelope bolo tie (the inlay work is stunning!). Smokey Gchachu and the Seowtewa family created some great new Sleeping Beauty turquoise necklace and earring sets. We have a carved amber fetish necklace by Verna Kashana and a three-strand, carved bird necklace by Andrew Emerson Quam. If you love opal but hate the price, we acquired more Navajo made spider opal pieces, which mimic the look of real opal without the high price or fragility of natural opal. Also, be sure to check out our selection of Italian-made sterling silver chains at wholesale prices. A variety of styles and sizes is a must for any jewelry collection! All in all we have a HUGE new inventory to start 2017 off with a bang!
We carry jewelry by 400+ different artists. Some of the artists whose work will be represented at our Yuma and Riverside shows include Vernon Haskie, Bruce Hodgins, Brian Clark, Gerald Lomaventema, Gibson Nez, Lyndon Tsosie, Charles Supplee, Jack Tom, Alex Sanchez, Justin Wilson, Orville Tsinnie, Mitchell Sockyma, Jerry Whagado, Erwin Tsosie, Patty and Raylan Edaakie, Veronica Benally, Wilbert Manning, Connie Seowtewa, Fadrian Bowannie, Darrell Cadman, Derrick Gordon, Sunshine Reeves, Steven Arviso, La Rose Ganadonegro, Donovan Cadman, Delbert Gordon, Guy Hoskie, Chris Nieto, Charlene Reano, Wilbert, and many more.