Shared Images: The Innovative Jewelry of Yazzie Johnson and Gail Bird [SOLD]

From the Jacket:

The jewelry of Yazzie Johnson and Gail Bird, together recognized as among the most innovative artists of their generation, is distinct among the fine work of Native American jewelers of the past four decades. Their jewelry pieces are frequently dramatic, always wearable, and compositionally arresting. This along with their use of nontraditional stones and uncommon juxtapositions of materials has earned them a place in the world of contemporary art.

Johnson and Bird, who work as a team, draw much inspiration from prehistoric and historic Southwest iconography, understanding that the ancient peoples developed distinctive images that continue to inspire contemporary creations. They are part of a generation of American Indian artists from the Southwest who have acknowledged and honored the traditions of their respective areas while pushing the creative boundaries and addressing contemporary concerns.

Shared Images presents a broad range of work representing more than three decades of creative collaboration between these two artists, from early works in brass to dynamic contemporary pieces of exemplary quality and artistic inspiration. The book emphasizes the forty-three thematic belts that have won the artists well-deserved acclaim at Santa Fe's annual Indian Arts Market. The book documents Johnson and Bird's collaborative process and features a range of work worn and exhibited in private and public collections across the country.