August 14 through September 19, 2020
Yazzie Johnson and Gail Bird | August 2020
Yazzie Johnson and Gail Bird | Summer 2020
Yazzie Johnson and Gail Bird | Summer 2020
Since 1972 Yazzie Johnson and Gail Bird have collaboratively defined contemporary American Indian jewlery. By combining unusual stones with silver and gold and their inspiration from the pictorial past of the American Southwest, they have developed a distinctive style sought after for its meticulous craftsmanship and strikingly modern design. Using a variety of early metalsmithing techniques, Johnson and Bird have translated their elegant designs into earrings, pendants, necklaces, belts and belt buckles.
This summer, The Owings Gallery will display an extensive collection of new work by Gail and Yazzie. In lieu of traditional Indian Market, the work will be on display at the gallery, and appointments can be scheduled to meet with Gail and Yazzie, in a safe and personal way. From August 13 through August 15, Gail and Yazzie will be available for appointments between 11am and 4pm. To schedule your perferred time, please contact the gallery at 505-982-6244 or lwidmar@owingsgallery.com.
Since 1972, Yazzie Johnson and Gail Bird have collaboratively defined contemporary American Indian jewlery. By combining unusual stones with silver and gold and their inspiration from the pictorial past of the American Southwest—they have developed a distinctive style sought after for its meticulous craftsmanship and strikingly modern design. Using a variety of early metalsmithing techniques, Johnson and Bird have translated their elegant designs into earrings, pendants, necklaces, belts and belt buckles.
Amethyst Sage Agate with Arkansas Water-serpent Bird on Verso
Wild Horse Jasper Belt Buckle with Zuni Water Serpent on Verso
Ring, silver in quartz (size 9-1/2)
Butterfly Pin, d.2020, petrified palmwood with tufa-cast 18kt gold, 2 3/4 x 2 3/4 inches
Pendant, d.2020, sugilite and stichtite in serpentine with tufa-cast 18kt gold, 3 1/8 x 1 inch
Butterfly Pin, d.2020, spessartite garnet and drusy carnelian with tufa-cast 18kt gold, 1 1/4 x 3 inches
Pendant, d. 2020, silver ore, tourmalinated quartz and tufa-cast 18kt gold 2 3/4 x 2 inches, shooting star design
Pendant, d.2020, natural surface citrine bead, brecciated jasper with tufa-cast 18 kt gold, 2 3/4 x 1 3/8 inches
Belt Buckle, d.2020, graveyard point agate with Tesuque water serpent design verso, 1 3/4 x 2 3/4 inches
Earrings, d.2020, asymmetrical spiderweb turquoise with tufa-cast 18kt gold 1 1/4 x 7/8 inches - each
Ring, d.2020, double chrysophase with tufa cast 18kt gold, size 7 1/2
Belt Buckle, d. 2020, cherry creek jasper with deer design verso, 2 3/8 x 2 7/8 inches
Textile Stars Belt, d.2020, Montana agate, sterling silver and 18kt gold 50 inches long
Earrings, d.2020, asymmetrical carved onyx, black star sapphire with tufa-cast 18kt gold 1 3/8 x 7/8 inches - each
Ring, d.2020, silver ore in quartz with 18kt gold, size 10
Earrings, d.2020, rainbow moonstone and freshwater pearl with 18kt gold, 1 1/4 x 3/4 inches - each
Earrings, d.2020, freshwater pearl and sugilite drops with 18kt gold, 1 1/2 x 1/2 inches - each
Bracelets, d.2020 hammered and sterling silver with 18kt gold and matte
black onyx (medium)
rutilated quartz (medium)
snakeskin agate (large)
turquoise (small)
silver freshwater pearl (large)
Earrings, green tourmaline and watermelon tourmailine crystal bars with tufa-cast 18kt gold, 2 1/8 x 3/8 inches - each
Earrings, triple blue gem turquoise with tufa-cast 18kt gold, 1 3/4 x 1/2 inches - each
Rings
Double-stone green tourmaline (size 9)
Dendritic opal/hessonite garnet (size 7-3/4)
Silver in quartz (size 9-1/2)
Carved green tourmaline with tufa-cast flanges (size 7-1/4)
Hessonite garnet (size 9-3/4)
Ring, silver in quartz (size 9-1/2)
Wild Horse Jasper Belt Buckle with Zuni Water Serpent on Verso
Wild Horse Jasper Belt Buckle with Zuni Water Serpent on Verso (verso)
Amethyst Sage Agate with Arkansas Water-serpent Bird on Verso
Amethyst Sage Agate with Arkansas Water-serpent Bird on Verso (verso)
Pendant, d.2020, sugilite and stichtite in serpentine with tufa-cast 18kt gold, 3 1/8 x 1 inches
Butterfly Pin, d.2020, petrified palmwood with tufa-cast 18kt gold, 2 3/4 x 2 3/4 inches
Butterfly Pin, d.2020, spessartite garnet and drusy carnelian with tufa-cast 18kt gold, 1 1/4 x 3 inches
Pendant, d. 2020, silver ore, tourmalinated quartz and tufa-cast 18kt gold 2 3/4 x 2 inches, shooting star design
Pendant, d.2020, natural surface citrine bead, brecciated jasper with tufa-cast 18 kt gold, 2 3/4 x 1 3/8 inches
Belt Buckle, d.2020, graveyard point agate with Tesuque water serpent design verso, 1 3/4 x 2 3/4 inches
Earrings, d.2020, asymmetrical spiderweb turquoise with tufa-cast 18kt gold 1 1/4 x 7/8 inches - each
Ring, d.2020, double chrysophase with tufa cast 18kt gold, size 7 1/2
Belt Buckle, d. 2020, cherry creek jasper with deer design verso, 2 3/8 x 2 7/8 inches
Earrings, d.2020, asymmetrical carved onyx, black star sapphire with tufa-cast 18kt gold 1 3/8 x 7/8 inches - each
Ring, d.2020, silver ore in quartz with 18kt gold, size 10
Ring, d.2020, double chrysophase with tufa cast 18kt gold, size 7 1/2
Earrings, d.2020, rainbow moonstone and freshwater pearl with 18kt gold, 1 1/4 x 3/4 inches - each
Earrings, d.2020, freshwater pearl and sugilite drops with 18kt gold, 1 1/2 x 1/2 inches - each
Earrings, green tourmaline and watermelon tourmailine crystal bars with tufa-cast 18kt gold, 2 1/8 x 3/8 inches - each
Earrings, triple blue gem turquoise with tufa-cast 18kt gold, 1 3/4 x 1/2 inches - each
Bracelets, d.2020, hammered and sterling silver with 18kt gold and matte
black onyx (medium)
rutilated quartz (medium)
snakeskin agate (large)
turquoise (small)
silver freshwater pearl (large)