Artist Profile | Bentonia Brown

We are excited to add yet another amazing new artist to the Beyond Buckskin Boutique: Bentonia Brown creates tiny little cloth-covered gems emblazoned with geometric designs and Native American art.

Her business, T.Connor&Co., is an ode to her son and her culture, and her limited-edition button-style earrings are about to become your latest obsession (how do you buy just one pair? You can't - you need to collect them all!). We sat down with Bentonia to learn more about her fun and budding business.

Presence: Showcasing Stunning Native Jewelry and Fashion

I am beyond excited for next week – I’ll be heading to Santa Fe to bring Beyond Buckskin to the Santa Fe Indian Market and the Indigenous Fine Arts Market (IFAM).

We will be hosting various fashion events throughout the weekend, and for one event, we are teaming up with IFAM and the Native Jewelers Society (NJS) for a Jewelry Showcase fashion show. I’m working with Nanibaa Beck, the IFAM Fashion Coordinator and NJS member, on the event. I sat down with her and asked her a few questions about the upcoming showcase, which will be held Friday, August 21 at 6:30pm at the Santa Fe Railyards in New Mexico.

Scroll down to read our interview now!

Artist Profile | Nalaga O'Brien

Avis Nalaga O’Brien, a Haida/Kwakwakw’wakw artist, was born in Alert Bay, British Columbia. She belongs to the Kaa’was Staa’stas Eagle Clan from Kiusta Village in Haida Gwaii and the Geegilgum Clam of the Likwiolk people of Cape Mudge. Nalaga’s introduction to the treasures of the Northwest Coast started when she learned to weave from her older sister, Meghann O’Brien. This was the beginning of her journey to where she is now, embracing the richness of her cultural heritage and creating jewelry and artwork that reflects the beauty of Northwest Coast Native design.

The Shokmalli’ Collection by Kristen Dorsey

"Fluidity and grace, light and shadow, keeper of the secrets of the stars, she controls the movements of celestial bodies. 

The wind is her breath. 

She is the ancient one. 

The sky serpent, soft as a delicate spring breeze fluttering blades of grass, and terrifying as electric bolts crack across the sky, trees are uprooted, buildings toppled as rain floods the fragile life of earth. 

Giver of life, taker of life, seductive as the twinkle of starlight in the darkened night." 

- Kristen Dorsey

Artist Profile | Courtney M. Leonard

Clay. It is one of the oldest materials used by the Indigenous peoples of this continent to create utilitarian objects. Clay pots held the food that fed our bodies. Clay was also used to create decorative items, spiritual items, and items of adornment. Now, the raw material continues to play an important role in Indigenous traditions and creativity. It is of the earth and is an important facilitator for creation.

Shinnecock artist Courtney M. Leonard takes the material and creates special dangle earrings formed from glittering micaceous clay.

Mea B'Fly July Farewell to Four Designs

In keeping with our mission to bring you the newest and greatest items for the best price, we are making room for new inventory by MaRia Bird (Mea B'Fly) by retiring some of her designs.

Mea B'Fly earrings are a great fusion of the powerful past with the energy of today. Each graphic print is made by Bird, starting with a focal background image that she elaborates with other design elements. She hand-produces each earring by adhering the small art prints to a wood base and topping them off with surgical steel earring hooks and jump rings.

Artist Profile | Michael Adams

One of the Beyond Buckskin Boutique's newest artists is Michael Adams. Born on the Hopi reservation and surrounded by culture and art, Adams was inspired to create his own style with jewelry. He looks to his parents for inspiration; his mother is a Hopi/Tewa potter and his father is a Katsina doll carver.

He hand-cuts, shapes, and then paints a unique design on each pair of earrings. He explained, "I love to incorporate color and Hopi symbolism into my designs all referencing nature." Click below to read our interview with him.

Artist Profile | Michelle Lowden

Michelle Lowden is the owner of Milo Creations, and hails from the Pueblo of Acoma. Located in New Mexico, Acoma is known as being the oldest continuously inhabited community in North America.

Interestingly, it is this ancient legacy that informs the contemporary work produced by Lowden (she is pictured left, wearing a pair of her earrings). She specializes in creating jewelry hand-painted with detailed geometric designs on lightweight basswood. Although her designs have a distinctive urban street vibe, her inspiration actually derives from traditional Acoma pottery, which is historically known for its intricate and dazzling patterns.

Braver: A New Project Fundraiser for the American Indian Cancer Foundation

Beyond Buckskin is proud to announce the BBB launch of a new earring design developed by MaRia Bird (Navajo/Hopi) for the American Indian Cancer Foundation. The earring, titled Braver, was created to raise money and awareness for cancer education, outreach, and supportive services for American Indian and Alaska Native people. This limited edition Powwow for Hope earring was launched in March.

"I'm very grateful to be a part of this project because I lost my father to cancer in 2009," explained MaRia Bird, the earring's creator.

Native Moderns: The White Hogan

At the same time that Lloyd Kiva New's fashion and accessories boutique was flourishing in downtown Scottsdale, the White Hogan was also gaining a reputation for innovative and superbly mastered jewelry designs, flatware, and hollow-ware.

The White Hogan Shop has its beginnings in Northern Arizona in the 1930s, and it officially opened its doors in Scottsdale in 1950.

Heard Market | Samuel LaFountain Takes Best in Class

Turtle Mountain Chippewa jewelry artist Samuel Greatwalker LaFountain took home two awards this past weekend at the annual Heard Indian Fair & Market for his Black Jade Bracelet.

He won First Place in his Division, Personal Adornment, and he also won the Best of Class award for Classification I: Jewelry and Lapidary, beating out all other jewelry artists.

IAIA | How To Break Jewelry

Check out this article written by a friend of mine (and fellow Darmouthian) Peterson Chee Brossy. The article is titled "How To Break Jewelry" and was published in the IAIA Chronicle, the official online newspaper for and by the students of the Institute of American Indian Arts.

The article takes a look at jewelry made by IAIA students; and Brossy features one student, Brian Fleetwood (Creek) who combines biology, science and art in his jewelry creations.

Brossy writes:
"The popular market for Native jewelry has an unofficial definition of what it should be: it has to be silver, turquoise, with southwestern motifs, like concho belts with geometric “tribal” designs, squash blossom necklaces. But there’s also a push from Native jewelers to broaden its scope. Experimentation isn’t always rewarded—neither by the market, or by critics, be they Native or not.

Holiday Shopping Guide: Support Native Artists and Small Businesses on Etsy

Ok ok ok -
Everybody is sayin that we should support local artists and small businesses this holiday season; and sometimes it's like, yea, that's a great idea, but just HOW do we do that?

Well, I'm going to make it easy for you! Over the next couple of weeks I'll be highlighting some of my favorite items and shops on Etsy.

Event | Native Treasures: Indian Arts Festival

The seventh annual Native Treasures: Indian Arts Festival is set for Memorial Day weekend, Friday, May 27 through Sunday, May 29, 2011 at the Santa Fe Convention Center. More than 200 museum-quality artists from over 40 tribes and pueblos will showcase and sell their pottery, jewelry, glass, painting, sculpture, carvings, textiles and other art.

Event | Indigenous Bling

One of the few objects that retains (if not expands) its value over time- you can never go wrong with some Indigenous bling!

This event, held at the Museum of Contemporary Native Arts in Santa Fe features jewelry by Shawn Bluejacket, Keri Ataumbi, Cippy CrazyHorse, Angie Reano-Owen, Jennifer Smith, Chris Pruitt, Duane Maktima, Marguerite Houle, and Paul Moore. The jewelry extravaganza will spotlight his-and-her combinations of bracelets and buckles.

Many Native fashion designers have been influenced by jewelers (Charles Loloma's color combinations provide great inspiration!), and jewelers have undoubtedly been influenced by the Native and non-Native fashion worlds. Check out this event to see the latest in Native bling.


Event Information:
Indigenous Bling
Jewelry Extravaganza!

Start Time: Friday, November 6, 2009 at 10:00am
End Time: Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 5:00pm
Location: Museum of Contemporary Native Arts
Street: 108 Cathedral Place
City/Town: Santa Fe, NM
Phone: 5059831666
Email: mohnesorgen@iaia.edu