Concha Belt c. 1950

Curator: Today we are looking at a Diné, or Navajo, Concha Belt, dating to around 1950, currently held in the collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Editor: My first impression is one of subtle power. The silverwork possesses a striking balance of delicacy and robustness, even industrial precision. There's something visually satisfying in its ordered arrangement. Curator: Indeed. Consider the means of production, the labor that goes into hammering and engraving silver, obtained through trade or resource extraction. We must remember that Diné silversmithing emerged in a specific historical context, reflecting cultural exchange and economic adaptation following contact with Spanish colonizers. It became both a creative and a commercial endeavor. Editor: But the formal properties shouldn't be overlooked! Look at the repeating circular motifs, each concha reflecting light. The central boss or bulge is intriguing, offering subtle gradations that are quite beautiful. Each piece shares similar properties, with minor deviations creating visual rhythm and overall unity. Curator: Certainly. And consider how these objects were circulated. These belts served not just as personal adornment but as valuable commodities, circulated through kinship networks or sold. Silversmiths balanced artistic expression with market demands, their work shaping Diné identity and social relations in the twentieth century. Editor: Speaking of identity, I read a lot in the symbolism of those circular shapes, like echoing shields and sun patterns, and repeating circular motifs offering powerful visual narratives on an intimate scale. Curator: Right, Diné artisans responded to both external influences and internal needs, with art production becoming pivotal to negotiating place and power, or as sites of resistance and persistence through constant disruptions of colonialism. Editor: Absolutely. I like how your understanding incorporates the broader system surrounding this piece, offering crucial angles from which to consider its formal achievement. Curator: Likewise, your attentiveness to form brings this creation to a new and deeper significance for us.