"Bathroom Break"
by Clarence Lee, Navajo
Alternate Views 
Clarence Lee
Description: 3-D silver wagon with horses, dogs, goats, rabbit. Additional materials include Italian white marble, dolomite, pipestone, turquoise (eyes and water), leather and copper. Moveable parts. Techniques: inlay/channel, constructed, hand-carved.
About this Award: Awarded for work that exhibits the highest visual appeal and craftsmanship.
Jurors' Comments:
Jake Livingston: The quality and intricacy of the silverwork and sculpture impressed me. The silver wagon includes many small moving parts; and even the chain connecting the wagon to the horses is made of silver.
Kent McManus: (about the Runner-Up "Raised Outline Teec Nos Pos" weaving, his initial choice) This is a more difficult technique of weaving than standard Navajo weaving. You have to have a different loom setup to do a raised outline pattern. A goodly portion of this is handspun and you have to admire anyone willing to do handspun when it's so easy to buy commercially spun yarn. And there is some vegetal dying in this too. Same thing, it's easier to buy from a store. This lady took a lot of prep time. It's a beautiful piece; but it's not JUST a beautiful rug. (About why he ultimately chose "Bathroom Break" to break the three-way tie.) This was my favorite thing here. But I thought it was because I'm biased; because I love animal carvings and fetishes. So I tried not to let that influence me. But that's my favorite piece.
Ruby Panana: (about the Runner-Up "Mountain Sheep (Ram)" Katsina carving) It's so surreal, I can imagine being at home; on the side of Jemez Pueblo or at Zia, when the kachinas are going home, and seeing the animals on the hill. It just speaks out to me.