The TOP Jewels: National Jewelry Design Exhibit running until June 28 at the Durango Arts Center is more than just an exhibit. It’s an experience, with lectures, workshops and a special exhibit still to come.
Coming up next, at 7 p.m. Saturday, Gail Bird and Yazzie Johnson will present a lecture on Southwest Indian jewelry in the Durango Arts Center Theatre.
“They’re going to do a historical overview about the evolution of American Indian jewelry making,” said Regina Hogan, the chairwoman of the TOPs committee that organized the event. “They’ll start with the rudiments of silver and turquoise and take it all the way to contemporary design.”
Bird and Johnson, who hail from the Santo Domingo Pueblo and Laguna Pueblo/Navajo traditions respectively, are both noted jewelry artists, and the lecture will be accompanied by a special exhibit of their work. The two women have known each other since they were children and have been collaborating since 1972.
Admission is free.
Meanwhile, there are still spots open in two workshops taught by national experts in their fields.
Deb Karash, who hails from North Carolina, will teach a two-day workshop called Stack It, Smack It, Squish It, Screw It from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 14 and 15 at the arts center.
Tim McCreight from Brunswick, Maine, will teach attendees how to work with precious metal clay in a two-day workshop from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. the following weekend, June 21 and 22. Visit www.metalclayguru.com/tim-mccreight to learn more about the artist and precious metal clay.
The cost of both workshops is $350 for Durango Arts Center members and $375 for nonmembers, and they’re both open to artists of all experience levels.
Visit http://public.durangoarts.org and click on adult classes to register for the workshops and learn more.
abutler@durangoherald.com
