Bracelet c. 1915

This silver bracelet set with turquoise stones was made by a Navajo artist. Imagine the hands that formed this bracelet: the twisting of the silver, the careful setting of each stone. There’s a tactility and a tenderness to this piece. The turquoise stones, like captured sky, vary slightly in color, as if each holds its own breath. I wonder about the artist, what they were thinking as they worked, the weight of the silver in their palm, the feel of the cool stones. This bracelet reminds me of the paintings of Agnes Martin, the way she used simple forms to convey a sense of quiet and contemplation. Both artists share an understanding of how materials can communicate feeling, intention, and meaning. Artists engage in an ongoing conversation, inspiring each other's creativity across time and place. The Navajo artist who created this bracelet has much to say about beauty, spirit, and the enduring power of human expression.