Bracelet Date Unknown

Curator: Let's delve into this eye-catching Pueblo silver bracelet. Although its exact date is unknown, it resides here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. What are your immediate impressions? Editor: It has such a strong presence! Despite its size as jewelry, those deeply etched, repeating chevron patterns give it a bold, almost architectural quality. There’s a primal energy to the design. Curator: Indeed. The chevron, or arrow motif, is significant in Indigenous cultures of the Americas. They symbolize direction, power, and, crucially, paths of life or journeys. We might also think about the political history here: decorative silverwork arose in the Southwest during periods of significant resistance and cultural revitalization, where Native artists began using newly accessible materials to challenge colonizing forces. Editor: That’s fascinating! And seeing it now, I also notice how the repetitive chevron pattern echoes waves or perhaps even the feathers of a bird in flight. Silver, as a material, even in this somewhat tarnished state, seems to amplify this association, adding connotations of freedom and spirituality. Is there any indication of its gender association, culturally? Curator: Silverwork like this would have been worn by both men and women in many Pueblo communities, often on ceremonial occasions or as markers of status and identity within a complex kinship system. I want to think about the wearer; this piece probably has witnessed a great deal of change across generations. Editor: The beauty is there whether you view it with an eye for form or material; either way, its existence provides a unique connection to the past. Curator: Absolutely, a potent reminder of resilience, resistance, and the enduring strength of Indigenous artistry. Thank you. Editor: It's always amazing to view artworks such as this in an intersectional, inclusive lens, where meaning accumulates the longer we observe.