Silver Sun Albuquerque

Bryant was born in To’hajiilee, NM in 1983. He is from the Water Edge (Mom) and Sage Brush (Dad) Clans. Bryant is a self taught silversmith. He has been training himself for about 6 years. His mother, Irene, was a smith, but she quit when he was born. He never got to watch or learn from her. He did inherit her tools, however he wants to learn more about his traditions. He also wants to pass on his talent to the next generation. He now lives in Albuquerque with his five year old son, Elliot.

He describes his work as “saw cut”, Silver Sun is very pleased to have this young artist who takes pride & satisfaction in his work. When people respond positively to his art, “it makes me feel good inside,” he says. “I love what I do; it feels more like a hobby than work. I am very lucky to be part of the Silver Sun family and honored to be working alongside Etta Endito who has taught me a lot about the art of silver smithing. I have learned to express myself through my work; I’m always looking for a challenge, anything is possible and there are no bad ideas… I have done a few shows with Silver Sun, IACA Fall/Spring markets, Indian Market openings at the Silver Sun Gallery and one year I was honored to participate in the celebration of The Indian Craft Shop’s 75th year in Washington D.C. I got a lot of good feedback from customers and other artists.” He is very intense and fully absorbed when he is creating his art. “Imagination is the start of art,” says Bryant.

Kathleen Sanchez, She-u-tani, was born and raised in San Felipe Pueblo. She is a designer of jewelry and turquoise. Most of her designs are inspired by and based on her Pueblo heritage.

Kathleen has been working alongside Silver Sun’s silversmiths for years. This collaboration has resulted in many unique, outstanding, one-of-a-kind pieces. Once in a while, a piece will come with a beautiful poem from the heart, evoked by either the design or the turquoise itself.

“Family, friends and my Pueblo are very important to me, “ she says. She has a huge extended family in the Pueblo, including close brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews. She has two grown children and three grandkids. “I participate in the Pueblo culture and dances. I am very happy when my family is part of this too.”

Kathleen has been with Silver Sun for over 36 years. She is now part owner, production manager, and buyer. Kathleen graduated from the University of New Mexico with a B.A. in American Studies and a minor in German.

Etta and Randy Endito have been silversmithing together since 1980. Etta, from Crownpoint, and Randy, from Smith Lake, New Mexico met in 1978. They have been married for 36 years come August. They have three grown sons and one daughter in middle school. Etta say her greatest gift for 2013 is her granddaughter Sofiia, who is four months old now. She also has a grandson, Mikey, who is eight years old. She says, “I love them with all my heart, along with their mothers.” So far, all three sons show interest and talent in silversmithing following in the footsteps of their parents. The Endito family is a true team, loving and respectful of one another.

Etta and Randy both helped their mothers in their jewelry making after school. Both mothers were very good silversmiths. Etta has a piece of jewelry that her father made years ago, which she treasures. Etta and Randy have enormous of respect for their parents and are grateful for the lessons they learned.

Randy’s specialty is the shaping and stamping of the silver. Etta enjoys creating the designs and patterns. They come together in harmony, building a unique piece of jewelry. Etta says, “We are proud to be making jewelry. This is something we still make in America, by Americans. Buy Native American Made!” Etta worked 7 years as production manager with Deanna. She became the turquoise buyer with Deanna. She kept learning and getting to know miners and cutters. This year she bought all kinds of turquoise, Charoite, and Spiney Oyster with Kathy & Deanna. Deanna says she gives Etta full authority with the checkbook, because she knows what she is doing! “She has a gift for matching and picking winning rocks.”

“I’ve been working for Silver Sun for 21 years. I’ve learned a lot from Deanna. I will forever be thankful to her for teaching me a lot especially in the turquoise area. I know my turquoise mines now. She has also taught me a lot about the Native American Indian jewelry business. I can say that I’m very mellow and love meeting people. I get along with just about anyone. I have a lot of respect for other artists, God Bless Them. “ –Etta Endito.

Rosella Sandoval is married to Dean Sandoval, Jr. They have four young children, one daughter and three sons. She works from home so that she can be with her children. She and Dean are teaching the children Navajo and Apache traditions. The family lives in To'hajiilee, New Mexico and works on their ranch raising bulls for rodeos.

Rosella mainly works with plain bezel pieces like earrings and pendants. Her silver work is very clean and compliments the beauty of the stones used in her jewelry.

Ruth Ann Begay was born in Phoenix, Arizona, but her family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico where she grew up speaking only Navajo. Her father brought the family to Albuquerque and raise his children modernly instead of traditionally.

She learned how to silversmith by watching her mother and her sister. Ruth Ann began silversmithing professionally after high school and started with simple bezels, and soldering then moving on to decorative work such as leaves. She is now married and has one daughter, Desbah. When asked why she didn’t raise her daughter traditionally, she says, “Why send them back when they can go forward.” She has taught her daughter how to do silverwork but understands that Desbah’s interest lies in electric work.

Ruth Ann and her husband live in Prewitt, New Mexico. She says that New Mexico is her favorite place to be.

Ruth Ann has worked with Silver Sun since Silver Sun bought Hills Indian Jewelry. She drove 70 miles one way to work until the price of gas went up.

Ruth Ann uses modern tools to make her jewelry. She taught herself how to finish silver jewelry. Ruth Ann says that when she signs her name to a piece, it is important that the quality of her work be something that she can be proud of. Ruth Ann thinks that teaching silver smithing sounds interesting. She says that the value of being an artist is that she can find jobs that allow her to be creative.

Shane R. Hendren is a Master Metal Smith and Artist who has spent his lifetime working at his craft.  For the past twenty years his principal focus has been on jewelry rooted in his Navajo heritage, incorporating traditional iconography and symbolism while employing advanced metals techniques such as Mokume Gane, and Engraving.

His work can be found in public and private collections around the globe as well as being featured in magazines and books.  His hard work and dedication to his craft has been recognized by awards from all the major art markets with the greatest recognition to date being the 2007 Artist of the Year, awarded by the Indian Arts and Crafts Association. He is currently the 2014 Artist of the Year for the Indian Arts and Crafts Association.

Buttressing his traditional rearing is formal training, having received an Associates Degree from IAIA in Museum Management and a BFA in all Disciplines from the University of New Mexico.  Shane’s dedication to the arts extends to service of the industry by first serving on the Advisory Board of AtlAtl and currently serving on the boards of IACA and IACA EF, currently the Ex Officio of both boards.  Recognized in 2010 on the floor of the NM House of Representatives for his service to the arts.

Marvin and Lillie Lovato, a husband and wife team, carve intricate heishi beads out of turquoise and shell. They have been working with Silver sun for 37 years. Marvin was in Olson's English class before she went into the Native American business.

They each learned to make heishi from their parents.Lillie's parents specialized in small, thin beads and when they were married they taught each other how you make the different styling.

They said that their favorite part of the job is designing jewlery and trying new materials. Attention to both beauty and quality has earned them blue and red ribbions at the New Mexico State Fair and Santa Fe Indian Market. "Where trying to make something contemporary and still conform to the framework of our traditional ways," Marvin says. "Their is an idea behind everything" For example, turquoise means life. In my necklaces with turquoise, that piece is like life."

Marvin and Lillie raise their 5 older children traditionally, but only a daughter is getting into the craft. Marvin and Lillie work out of thier home in the Santa Domingo Pueblo in northern New Mexico. Marvin is also very active in the Santa Domingo Trible Council. In their spare time, Marvin enjoys farming corn, chili, and other vegetables, and let's not for get bowling. Lillie teaches canvas crafting to the elders and traditional food making to the women and girls of her tribe. Very few Santa Domingo families make their own turquoise and heishe.