Pair of Bead Earrings c. 20th century

These beaded earrings, made by a Navajo artist, are now housed at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Look at how the beads are strung, one by one, with little color variations along the thread, like variations in brushstrokes. This is the real work, right? I love these shades of blue and green in the turquoise; they remind me of a hazy summer sky, or maybe of looking into clear water, but water that's deep. Notice the way the beads are subtly irregular, and how this creates a sense of movement and life. The stones hang like drops about to fall. This feels like a collaboration with the earth itself, or with time passing. Like the work of Ree Morton, these earrings invite contemplation on process and the beauty found in imperfection. They show us that art is an ongoing conversation.