Bracelet c. 1940

Curator: This piece, dating back to around 1940, is a beautiful silver bracelet made by a Navajo artist, part of the collection at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Editor: It's striking how immediate the turquoise is, like catching the ocean in a silver cage. You notice its central crack as well, it hints to some possible story behind its creation. Curator: Indeed. Considering the bracelet’s materials—silver and turquoise—it's fascinating to think about their journeys, right? Mined, traded, processed... the silversmith’s labor transforms raw elements. It gives us glimpse of indigenous labor. Editor: Exactly! But look closely at how that crack bisects the stone's oval shape. It feels deliberate, a bold gesture, dividing an ocean. Curator: It’s possible, although the process might tell more. Turquoise mining itself had a profound impact on Indigenous communities; this bracelet could embody that very complex extraction of materials. The braided texture circling the stone, too—like a little, repetitive history being told on the metal surface itself, maybe with its origin in colonial toolwork… Editor: I hadn't thought about that labor involved in the piece! For me, it first echoes vastness – think about the open landscapes, the expansive sky and connection with natural world! It represents a harmony, yet that crack also reminds us the precious materials also age and require care to persevere. Curator: And it does, and the social context informs that. These objects were often made for trade and sale, especially near tourist routes, raising a question of authentic indigenous labor versus cultural commodification and who has the upper hand in these situations. Editor: Even that slight tarnish on the silver. It speaks of age and passing of time. Curator: A tangible symbol of endurance! I mean it tells of stories. Both its maker and the world from which the piece was born. It brings back memories. Editor: A poignant intersection of artistry, labor, time, and nature—what stories this bracelet whispers about! It seems like there's both simplicity in this bracelet and sophistication! Curator: Indeed, one can be easily captivated by it!