"Cast Silver Belt Buckle"
by Bennard Dallasvuyaoma, Akimel O'odham (Salt River Pima)/Hopi
Bennard Dallasvuyaoma and Leslie Tolbert
Description: Cast silver belt buckle with banded inlay using multiple stones including Bisbee turquoise. The inlay depicts a landscape scene with earth, sky and symbols of the Hopi people.
Artist's Description of the Buckle: The buckle represents my Hopi culture. The land and mesas at the bottom are represented by the black fossilized palm wood. The green and red stones that are parallel in the center of the black mesa represent our matrilineal culture. Our mothers (all females) wear black mantas with green and red lines that run across the top and bottom. We are tied to the earth and our Hopi culture through our mothers. The red, yellow, orange and purple stones represent the evening sunset with the blue turquoise and other green stones representing the sky. The black and blue lines show the eyes of the Kachina Spirits that are the clouds. Each stone is a symbol of corn pollen being carried in harmony and spirituality. My name is in each piece of jewelry that I have made. Dallas means corn pollen and Vuyaoma means to carry the corn pollen in harmony and spirtuality.
Key to the Stones in the Buckle
About this Award: Art works winning purchase awards become part of the museum's permanent collections. They are chosen for their technique and artistry as well as for the way in which they compare and contrast with other items in our collections. Any medium is eligible.
* Regarding the value of the award, Bennard mentions: "When I was first acknowledged at the show that the Buckle was going to be the Purchase Award, I was asked the price of the buckle, which I had given as $6,800.00. I was told that the amount was beyond what the award would be. I was honored to be chosen so I said we would donate $3,800."
Juror's
Comments:
Diane Dittemore and Patrick Lyons: This piece is absolutely gorgeous. The artist received the Arizona turquoise (Bisbee) from Verma Nequatewa (Sonwai), who got it from Charles Loloma her teacher. Bennard represents a recent generation of jewelers inspired by Charles Loloma, who was his uncle. Bennard was very thrilled to have the buckle come to ASM, especially upon learning that we mention Loloma in talks on jewelry and that have included photos of him in the current "Set in Stone" exhibit regarding his teaching in the Soutwestern Indian Art Project. The Vice President Research, Leslie Tolbert, (donor of the award) had a good opportunity to speak with the artist, and appears to be quite happy at our selection, as well as honored to meet Bennard.