Bracelet c. 1950

This bracelet was made by Hopituh Shinumu, who was Hopi, and it just sings. I love the way the silver is worked around the stones, like the artist is drawing with metal. I bet they carefully considered each placement, letting the unique qualities of each stone inform the overall design. The green and blue-green stones add a playful rhythm, a little visual skip in the composition. You can see Hopituh Shinumu building upon traditions of Hopi craftsmanship, but also bringing their own sensibility to it. Making something new and alive. For me, art is like this. It is a conversation across time, a give and take between artists that keeps evolving. Hopituh Shinumu’s bracelet is a gorgeous expression of the art!