M Tsosie Native American Artist

4/10/2022/ Comments off

Wedding Rings Pendants Bracelets Other Jewelry Artwork

Native American M. Tsosie Sterling Silver Turquoise Pendant #6707. Elki Tsosie Artist Signed X Navajo Sterling Turquoise & Stone Papoose Necklace. The struggle with maintaining a Native American identity in today’s society is quite complicated because of the lack there of. People in New York like the idea of Native Americans yet when one met me, then it was a real shock! This painting brings the perspective of what I as a native. Vintage Southwestern Turquoise Brooch, signed M.E. Tsosie, a Native American/Navajo artist. This is a round silver brooch with a turquoise raised stone that is sawtooth bezel set. It has a curved fan-like accent next to it. The rest of the brooch has hammered designs of. Feel free to contact me: Alain, webmaster@art-amerindien.com (Only with clear back & front pictures of Indian Native American jewelry attached please, I'm not a mind-reader!) A 1 USD (or more) donation to encourage a hard work made on these pages will be greatly appreciated!

Welcome to The Navajo Silversmith™. Our artist, Navajo indian silversmith Dennison Tsosie, works from his studio located in the heart of the Southwest. We have been in business since 1988, and have offered our products on the internet since 1995. Our goal is to produce handcrafted jewelry of the highest quality, at an affordable price.

The word Navajo immediately brings to mind, fine silver and turquoise jewelry in addition to exquisite rugs. These time honored traditions have been handed down from generation to generation, being perfected and brought to a higher level with each new generation.

Dennison’s own Grandfather began teaching him the art of silversmithing when Dennison was still very young. He felt the trade would be carried on as a worthy way to make a living. Sadly, by the time Dennison was grown, it was a different world from the time of his Grandfather. The age of better, faster, and easier ways of creating and reproducing jewelry was here. Mass production, cheap imitations, and imports which looked exactly like Native American arts all brought the prices down, and confused the public. It was difficult to sell the fruits of one's labor for what it was worth. Added to this, was the fact that the middle man was often the one who made the money -not the artist. The new generation of would-be craftsmen found it more lucrative to take employment at something that would pay a living wage. This was true of Dennison too. He spent many years in the regular work force, only doing silversmith or artwork as a hobby and as a supplement to his income. Inside though, he carried a dream to follow his love and create artwork and jewelry full-time. Finally, in 1988 he took that final leap of faith. With little more than hopes and dreams, he quit his job and started his own business, The Navajo Silversmith. More than two decades later, he remains in business and happy to still be pleasing customers worldwide.

There is great satisfaction and pride in creating works of beauty and making them available for others to enjoy. Such jewelry lasts, to cherish and even pass down to the next generation. Dennison’s love of his craft and pride in his workmanship shines through every piece he fashions. He is still touched to see the joy and delight when his creations are presented to a customer. Often his hard work is a first step toward a rewarding relationship with those who have purchased his jewelry.

Take a moment to experience timeless Navajo heritage, joined with a vision of the future. No matter what you are looking for, we pride ourselves in carrying some of the finest handmade jewelry and artwork available anywhere today.We look forward to working with you in creating your personal vision.
-Dennison and Teddi Tsosie

Hosteen Klah in middle age.
Born	1867 Bear Mountain, near Fort Wingate, New Mexico
Died	February 27, 1937
Nationality	American / Navajo
Known for	Weaver, artist and medicine man (chanting and sandpainting)
Movement	Founded the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian with Mary Cabot Wheelwright

A weaving based on a Whirling Log ceremony sand painting by Klah, circa 1925.

Hosteen Klah (Navajo: Hastiin Tłʼa, 1867– February 27, 1937)^[1] was a Navajo artist and medicine man. They documented aspects of Navajo religion and related ceremonial practices. As a traditional nádleehi person, they were both a ceremonial singer and master weaver.

Background[edit]

Hosteen Klah, also spelled Hastiin Klah, was born in 1867 at Bear Mountain, near Fort Wingate, New Mexico. His name essentially means Sir Left Handed in Navajo; in his youth, he was called Ahway Eskay (Awééʼ ashkii). Hoksay Nolyae was his father and Ahson Tsosie, of the Tsétaaʼáanii Clan, was his mother.^[2] Klah was born after the Navajos’ return to their homelands from forced government internment at Bosque Redondo. Klah avoided attending government school;^[3] rather, he received training in the traditionally male realm of ceremonial practices (chanting and sandpainting) from his uncle. While most individuals master only one or two complete chants, Klah mastered at least eight.^{[citation needed]}

Gender[edit]

Hosteen Klah is most commonly believed to be intersex.^[2] An influential figure in the development of Navajo weaving, Klah was relatively unique in that, among the Navajo, weavers are typically women, and ceremonial singers (hataałii) are usually male. Hosteen Klah, however, was both a weaver and a singer. This was possible because of his particular gender status as a Nádleehi (meaning 'one who is transformed' or 'one who changes'). Nádleehi are unique to Navajo culture, and can be born male or intersex.^[3]

Weaving[edit]

Identified as a nádleeh in adolescence, Klah began his training in the traditionally female craft of weaving with his mother and sister in the 1880s. Klah wove his first complete weaving at the 1892–1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago,^[2]^[3] where he was probably part of a sandpainting demonstration.

In 1916, Klah wove imagery from the Yéʼii bicheii dance into a rug. He incorporated more representations of Navajo religion into his weaving, including sandpainting imagery by 1919. This practice was regarded as sacrilegious by many Navajo traditionalists^[2]^[3] and is regarded as such by some Navajo people today.

Klah taught his two nieces both his weaving techniques and designs.^[3]

Wheelwright Museum[edit]

In 1921, Hosteen Klah was introduced to Mary Cabot Wheelwright, a Boston heiress. The two became friends and collaborated in founding the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Fearing for the future of Navajo religion after witnessing decades of assimilationist assaults on traditional culture by missionaries and the US government, Klah wanted to document Navajo religion and make it available for future generations. The museum was initially called the Navajo House of Prayer and House of Navajo Religion, but then renamed the Museum of Navajo Ceremonial Art, and ultimately renamed in 1977, when the museum repatriated sensitive cultural patrimony back to the Navajo Nation.^[4]

In 1942 the Museum of Navajo Ceremonial Art (as it was then called) published Navajo Creation Myth - the Story of the Emergence by Hosteen Klah, Recorded by Mary C. Wheelwright.^[5]

Death[edit]

Hosteen Klah died on February 27, 1937 from pneumonia, and he is buried on the grounds of the Wheelwright Museum.^[2]