Bracelet c. 1930

This bracelet was made by a Navajo, or Diné artist, out of silver and turquoise. It’s such a beautiful, simple design, and I’m struck by the contrast between the cool, smooth silver and the warm, textured turquoise. Looking closely, you can see the traces of the artist's hand in the silverwork. The small indentations, the slightly uneven curves, it all speaks to a really intimate process. It's not just about the final product, but about the time spent, the care taken, the relationship between the artist and the materials. And that turquoise stone! I love the cracks and veins running through it, like a tiny map of some unknown land. They give the piece so much character and depth. It makes me think of the work of someone like the sculptor Richard Serra. He’s interested in process too, in how the hand shapes raw materials into something new. Art is a conversation, right?