Pete Yazzie is a Navajo artist
whose culture and traditional values come alive in his
creations. He started
his artistic career working silver like many Navajo artists,
but today, he focuses on creating large scale steel sculptures.
Pete grew up in a large family on the Navajo Reservation
in New Mexico. His mother was from the Bitterwater Clan;
his father from the Bear Clan. Pete’s older brother,
Harrison Yazzie, taught him how to work silver when he was
young. “It was my mother who taught me about how to
be a traditional artist. She was a weaver,” says Pete. “I
remember her getting up before dawn to pray before she would
work on her weavings. She said that I should never work unless
my mind and heart were clear.”
| At
twelve years of age, he was earning money by selling
his jewelry to tourists and at shows, and would have
continued if his mother had not stopped him when he
began high school. “Education was always important
to my mother,” says Pete. “She wanted to
make sure I graduated.” After high school, Pete
moved to Chicago to attend the American Indian Ironworkers
School where he met Indians from all over the United
States. “We worked on the high steel buildings
and were known as Skywalkers,” said Pete. During
this time, he continued his silverwork, making traditional
and contemporary jewelry in various styles. Pete likes
to experiment. In addition to the traditional Navajo
style jewelry, he learned other techniques -- to cut
and set stones in delicate inlay and to cut shapes
from metal to create dramatic overlay. He also experiments
with metals other than the traditional silver. He works
with gold, copper and even the nickel silver used by
Plains and Eastern Tribes. |
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Pete
worked as a steelworker for 20 years until an accident
forced him to quit. He worked more on his jewelry and
then one day decided to experiment with steel. “I
sculpt sacred beings made by the Creator to remind
us of their existence. Many of my sculptures started
as a dream. My first pieces were a bear, a buffalo
and then wolves,” says Pete. “I work on
several pieces at a time, working on one and then another.
The work gets done in its own time. When I complete
a piece, I feel like I’ve come full circle.” Pete
usually works in carbon steel, but also works in stainless
steel, brass and copper. He uses an acetylene torch
rather than the plasma cutters preferred by other steel
sculptors. |
| “I begin by smudging myself and saying
a prayer. I give thanks for the gift of my talent and
ask the Creator to guide my hands.” Each of Pete's
sculptures is an original. He may repeat a figure, but
the designs will always differ. Each is a tribute to
harmony and creation. “Each one has a story,” says
Pete. “Soaring Eagle,” is a messenger to
the Creator. The lightning design in its body represents
life that comes from the thunderstorms and rain. |
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“Bow and Arrow” and “Kokopelli” come
from petroglyphs he found in the canyons when he was
a young boy herding sheep or looking for wood. “I
made ‘Pack of Running Wolves’ to show wolves
in a more natural state,” says Pete. “They
are movable so that the configuration can change.” “Sea
Turtle” started as a dream, Pete saw the turtle
with a fire behind it, so decided to make it into a fireplace
screen. “I learned a lot about turtles while working
on this piece. It took me two years to finish and was
the first sculpture where I cut, shaped and applied pieces
to the base form. It reminded me of my silverwork - just
on a much larger scale.” |
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Pete is often called
upon to provide traditional invocations and cultural presentations,
as well
as, preparation of Native foods. “I love sharing my
art and culture,” says Pete. “If it brings healing
to someone in pain, or just appreciation for the beauty and
harmony around us, I am happy.”
The Indian Craft Shop represents artists from over 40
tribal areas within the United States. Located in the Department
of the Interior federal building at 18th and C Streets, the
Shop is open Monday thru Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Closed federal holidays. Open the third Saturday of each month
from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Photo ID required for entrance.
For more information, call 202-208-4056.
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