Bracelet c. 1940

This bracelet was made by an A'shiwi (Zuni) artist, and it's full of little turquoise gestures. It has this expansive grid-like structure, like a cityscape built from silver and stone. I like to imagine the artist thinking about the balance, the tension between order and chaos, as they set each little stone. Each piece seems carefully placed. The overall effect is mesmerizing. I can imagine wearing this and feeling connected to the earth, to the sky, to the hands that made it. You know? The stones themselves feel very tactile. I can feel the coolness of them against the warmth of my skin. The silver that surrounds each stone is so delicate and strong, holding everything together. It reminds me of Agnes Martin's grids in a way, each mark a world of its own. It's a conversation across time and materials. The A'shiwi artist created a space for contemplation, each element speaking to a larger story of balance and connection.