Ancient stone and my neo-shell earrings.

Pueblo-style earrings.
Photo by venaya yazzie

The earrings pictured here are my favorite earrings in my collection. I attained these circular discs about 15 years ago in Arizona. They are mostly made completely of shell material  including: spiny oyster, mother of pearl, and abalone, and turquoise too.

During my second week of my artist residency (AIR), I wore these earrings on my re-occurring visit to the dwelling called Balcony House at Mesa Verde. Yes, I did visit the dwellings at Mesa Verde, but not all. Some people, (Navajo) do not visit such sights due to their personal reasons, as some say it is taboo to do so. Being raised in a family of scholars, archaeologists,  and 'anthros', I feel I am somewhat more open-minded to studying and experience the history of Indigenous people of the southwest.  Furthermore, my grandfather and his brothers who were from the area near Chaco Canyon in New Mexico also worked as Navajo masons who assisted in re-building the walls at Chaco.

I must admit that the overall feeling I got from this place (Balcony House) was a calming, peaceful feeling even that of celebration and also the female. I was able to do many Plein-Air art sketching and photography in the area and will soon create a painting from these initial drawings and from one I will donate the AIR program.

Throughout my rural trek in the high-desert lands of Mesa Verde I 'adorned' my person. I wore coral, turquoise, silver; it was my humble way of paying homage to ancestors who once walked, and migrated among the ancient sagebrush, cedar, juniper trees and majestic ponderosa pine and blue spruce.

My art has blessed my life path, for it has taken me to places my spirit needs. I am so very thankful for art in my life. 

blessings,

venaya.