“The Guardian,” bronze and sterling silver, by Ed Archie Noisecai;

Widely considered one of the premier craft exhibitions and sales in the nation, this year’s Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show (Nov. 7-10, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center) will, for the first time, highlight works by Native Americans. Twenty five leading Native American craft artists have been invited to exhibit alongside 190 other distinguished artists from across the country.

The event offers a special opportunity to meet the artists and to learn about and purchase their work. Katherine Padulo, chairperson for the 2002 show, says the decision to highlight Native American crafts grew from a recognition of its increasing popularity with collectors and the general public.

The Native American exhibitors represent a number of western tribes from the United States and Canada including Shoshone-Yokut, Shawnee, Jemez Pueblo, Isleta Pueblo, Hopi, Spokane, Big Stone Cree, Shuswap/Stlitlimx, Pascua Yaqui, and Navajo.

Ancestral and tribal traditions influence artists

Black Eagle creates artifacts such as war shirts, medicine shields, warrior pipes, and pipe bags using real bison and deer sinews, rawhides and ground pigments from Mother Earth the way his Shoshone-Yokut ancestors did. Though difficult to obtain, Shoshone brain-tanned smoked deerskin and antique (pre-1900) beads are used in many of his finest pieces. Many of his creations come from dreams and revolve around the importance of living as a part of nature.

A sculptor in clay and bronze, Joe Cajero Jr. grew up at the Jemez Pueblo in the mountains north of Albuquerque, N.M. As a child he accompanied his mother, a potter, to Indian art shows throughout the southwest. As a teenager he made small animal figures from clay and sold them to tourists. Following high school, he attended the Institute of American Indian Arts. Today Cajero is internationally known for his smiling Koshare figures (a black and white striped Pueblo clown figure used in ceremonies and dances).

clay vase by Glen Nipshank.

Native American fiber artists pay homage to Indian lifestyle

Betty David is well known for her handcrafted, made-to-measure, shearling coats distinguished by the Northwest Coast Indian motifs painted on the back, front and sleeves. Working in her Seattle studio, David uses supple lamb skins (from Iceland, Mongolia and Italy) and tailors each garment to her client’s wishes. Her designs commonly feature the ovoids and U-forms of traditional Indian art and images such as the bear, raven, shark, killer whale, swan, otter and human beings.

Based in Albuquerque, Jeanette Ferrara of Isleta Pueblo is known for her coats made from collector blankets. Many of these one-of-a-kind coats are made from hand-loomed blankets of Ramona Sakiestewa (Hopi), fabrics that pay tribute to the lifestyle of the Canyon de Chelly area. Ferrara also makes Geronimo blankets, limited edition (signed and numbered) coats paying homage to the Apache leader.

Exquisite hand-woven rugs are the trademark of The Laughing Family from Crystal, N.M. Elsie Mark, a Navajo, learned weaving from her mother and began making the Crystal-style rugs in 1940. Now several of her children and grandchildren continue the family tradition weaving high quality textiles distinguished by their strong colors and simple designs.

Contemporary jewelry created using traditional and modern techniques

Pendant of gold and chrysocolla drusy, by Shawn Bluejacket-Roccamo

Shawn Bluejacket-Roccamo creates contemporary jewelry based on Native American designs. His jewelry is fabricated not cast. Working in sterling silver, and 18k and 22k gold, each piece is hammered into shape using hand tools. Then the work is etched to a rich matte sheen on both side. The backs are often etched with ancient tribal symbols. Rare and exotic gemstones such as Brazilian Drusy Agate or Madagascar Red Fire Quartz are used.

Duane C. Maktima of Glorieta, N.M., has spent the past 26 years working as professional craft artist in metalsmithing and jewelry. His work has received numerous awards at shows and exhibitions throughout the country over three decades. He is widely known for his work in promoting the crafts and culture of the Southwest Pueblos and for support of contemporary Native American craft artists.

Michael D. Garcia, who uses the tribal name Na Na Ping, is a Pascua Yaqui from the village of Guadalupe, near Tempe, Ariz. His contemporary inlay jewelry has received numerous awards. His extensive knowledge of stone cutting and inlay techniques comes from many years of experience, his inspiration from his uncles who were master cutters and jewelers.

Na Na Ping works in both gold and silver and using the finest natural stones available in the world market.

Glen Nipshank, a member of the Big Stone Cree Tribe of Alberta, Canada, received his art education in Minnesota, Vancouver, British Columbia, and Santa Fe. He has worked as a professional craft artist since 1984. While he works in several media, he specializes in contemporary pottery using traditional firing techniques. His award-winning hand-thrown clay vessels feature painted Native American designs and images and have been shown in galleries and museums throughout Canada and the United States.

Daniel Sunshine Reeves is a self-taught silversmith who learned by watching his older brother make jewelry. A resident of Twin Lakes, N.M., Reeves began work as a craft artist shortly after graduation from high school in the mid-1990s. He has exhibited and sold his work throughout the Southwest and in Portland and Indianapolis. He has also shown in Japan. He has received Best of Show awards 12 times.

While glass making is not normally associated with Native American crafts, Tony Jojola from the Isleta Pueblo near Taos, N.M., is considered by many as one of the most original glass makers in the country. Jojola describes his work as “a way to take old traditions and apply them in a new and very beautiful way.” Some of his glass bowls and vessels are made in shapes created by Indian basketmakers. Others are decorated with ancient patterns and symbols.

Buyers: beware of Native American knock-offs

When purchasing Native American crafts, buyers must be concerned with authenticity. Bruce Waddington of Philadelphia, a dedicated collector of Pueblo pottery, offers some basic guidelines. Purchase items from a reputable dealer. Learn as much as you can about the crafts that interests you. Learn to recognize the distinguishing tribal designs, colors, materials, and construction techniques. Look for artist’s marks or signatures, but do not rely on these exclusively. Look for artistic quality. Authentic Native American crafts are consistently of finer quality than copies sometimes offered as genuine.

Events such as the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show offer an excellent opportunity to gain greater knowledge of various craft media and to meet many of the leading craft artists in the nation.