Bracelet c. 1950

Curator: Look at this marvelous bracelet, created around 1950 by an artist from A'shiwi, also known as Zuni Pueblo. It's crafted from silver, a beautiful piece of metalwork housed right here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Editor: Wow, the color just pops! All those little turquoise stones against the silver. It reminds me of looking out over a vast landscape, tiny turquoise pools of water reflecting the sky. Curator: Indeed, the repetition is significant. The use of turquoise is particularly important in A'shiwi culture, not merely as adornment but with deeper symbolic associations tied to the sky, water, and overall well-being. It acts as a powerful visual symbol. Editor: I can see that. Each tiny stone, set so deliberately, must hold significance beyond decoration. What’s interesting to me is the combination of that intense pop of turquoise and then this structural, almost rigid, setting of silver bars. Does this contrast carry any specific weight? Curator: That rigidity in structure, paired with vibrant, living turquoise, is emblematic of balancing tradition and progress in post-war A'shiwi artistic practices. These pieces, once created solely for internal cultural uses, enter into a broader economic marketplace, and are both objects of beauty and transactions across cultures. Editor: It speaks volumes about the era – indigenous artistry adapting and yet staying true to its cultural roots. This tension you describe… seeing the bracelet I feel a sense of reverence but also of transition. Curator: Precisely. Its power comes from how seamlessly it conveys cultural memory. I always return to how important jewelry like this was as Indigenous populations dealt with the complex politics of identity. This wasn't just decorative, it was declarative. Editor: So, what starts out as seemingly just a pretty bracelet is a powerful testament. It’s always fascinating how artifacts can quietly contain and communicate the social tides they existed within. Curator: Absolutely, art offers the unique ability to speak across decades, embedding rich layers of history and heritage within the artistry.