“I will trust in the shelter of your wings”

MEET THE ARTIST: JOLENE BIRD

There's a reason why that with every Native American juried/judged event that Jolene attends, she will usually win either in "Best of Show, the big Grand Prize or comes in 1st place & when you see the unique type of work she puts out, you'll understand why! She has gone on to win awards for her amazing mosaic pots/vases & I have been honored at carrying many, which have all sold out.

Incorporating what has been passed down through oral history & from generation after generation, Jolene puts her own unique twists on things & pours her heart & soul into everything she puts her hands on & the judges for these Native American events are always left in disbelief because the items she brings to the table, are something you'll never see among other Puebloan artists when it comes to the "Art of Mosaic or for "Puebloan Jewelry".

I believe with Jolene, it's not about just being another Puebloan mosaic artist, but it's the way & WHAT she decides to mosaic! She has even gone on to making a chess set, mosaic sunglasses, mosaic chairs, a little completely mosaic inlaid Volkswagen Beetle car and even went as far as fully mosaic inlaying a Gibson guitar!! You name it, Jolene will mosaic it!

The young Jolene learned this art from her grandparents (who were also mosaic artists) but lucky for Jolene, because it was her Grandmother Anita, who told her to "seek a new direction" & that is when she went from 'traditional' & took a more "contemporary' approach by starting to design these very high end quality pieces, while gaining the respect of many Native American scholars. Moving forward, she has surpassed 100's of artists from the pueblo.

Jolene lives on the Kewa Pueblo with her immediate family, who she is now passing on everything she knows about this Ancestral Puebloan art form & works very closely with her artisan son Charles Bird, whose jewelry you can find in my listings. !

Jolene's work is highly collectible & gives us a historical ancestral Puebloan past,but with a contemporary edginess !

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THE PIN:

This very special, traditionally made "Puebloan Angel" is mosaic inlaid with both Arizona & Nevada turquoise, which creates a gorgeous contrast, since each of these mines have various tonalities. Also used are cuts of Gaspeite,(Lime) Apple coral (Orange/Red) & brown Serpentine. Each of these cuts were cut & shaped by hand & then carefully placed atop of a blond wood that has been finished with a painted coppery brown backside.(See photos 9 & 10) She is finalized with 3 shimmery Mother of Pearl flowers that act as her Halo!

She'll be a perfect choice for both men or women! Put it on your clothing, a hat, purse, shawl, a lapel or anything else you come up with! It does have some weight,so I personally wouldn't pin this on any fragile like fabric. The pins length is small (Approximately 3/4" to 7/8" usable length) so a thick/heavier fabric might be tricky.

She is one of a kind & with there only being 1 made! So don't wait for someone else to grab her!