| For
almost 30 years, Duane Maktima has produced
incredibly beautiful jewelry. His work has a distinctive sculptural
quality that makes his pieces more than just adornment, they
are small masterpieces of art and culture.
"My grandfather told me that 'Maktima'
means searching for eagles," says Duane. His work has
been compared to a bird in flight -- seemingly effortless
grace and form. A master of design, his bracelets, necklaces
and rings are elegant, with clean lines and geometric symmetry.
Some pieces recreate symbols of the ancient Southwestern peoples,
some echo Maktima's early love of Art Deco and Scandinavian
design, but all are contemporary with his own unique style.
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Maktima
often combines brightly colored gemstones into dramatic
geometric patterns he sets in gold and silver. Some may
have a simple bezel that accents the stone, others may
have an ornate filigree with ancient symbols or rock art
designs with the stones as a centerpiece. The combinations
of stones are dramatic and unusual. They may include the
highest quality turquoise or coral, with diamonds or exotic
gemstones like sugilite, lapis, opal, charoite, chrysoprase,
chrysocolla, chalcosiderite, ironwood, fossilized ivory,
dinosaur bone and more. |
"The
sculptural quality comes from a hollow-form technique I fashioned
to give a three-dimensional look to my inlay work," says
Maktima. It's not unusual to see a thin band of gold used
as an accent in his channel inlay to enhance the stone. Many
pieces, like his Mimbres animal pins, combine reticulated
silver with brushed silver to give texture and added dimension
to his overlay.
| A
top award winning contemporary jeweler and designer, Duane's
work is included in a number of museum and private collections,
and has been on exhibit at a number of shows, including
"The Cutting Edge," Heard Museum, Phoenix Arizona;
"Emerging Metalsmiths," Wheelwright Museum,
Santa Fe, New Mexico; "Changing Hands," American
Craft Museum, New York City, among others. |
|
Soon
after receiving his Bachelor's of Fine Arts in metalsmithing
from the Northern Arizona University, Duane was awarded the
Southwest Association of American Indian Arts (SWAIA) Fellowship.
He has also received the School of American Research Katryn
Lamont Fellowship and the Northern Arizona University Distinguished
Centennial Alumnus Award, as well as the Millennium Alumnus
Award. "I'm grateful for all of my success," says
Duane. "The fellowships allowed me time to conduct research
for my art, as well as time to figure out who I was and my
place within the world."
"As an Indian artist, I feel we have
something very valuable to share through our art. We represent
the history and cultures of our parents and our ancestors.
My life has been shaped by the experiences of my Hopi grandfather
and Laguna Pueblo grandmother. They survived boarding schools,
relocation and the changes these brought to the reservations.
As a result, I really do live in two worlds. I am a contemporary
person, doing contemporary work, but I'm still a very traditional
and spiritual person."
Duane has come a long way from the 10 year
old whose first paying job was digging a ditch, to the young
man who earned money shining shoes and helping his grandfather
make katsinas. A member of the Parrot Clan, this design is
used in his hallmark. "We are living the prophecies of
our People," says Duane. "I feel that I have the
best of both worlds because of my grandfather's emphasis on
education and hard work."
Duane has served on many boards and committees
to help promote the arts, including the Santa Fe Arts Commission,
the SWAIA Advisory Committee and the Crow Canyon Archaeological
Center. Today, he is focusing on his art. He runs his studio
gallery with wife Janice. His daughter recently graduated
high school, his son helps with the business. You'll find
him there, unless they've "gone fishing." Duane's
favorite hobby is fly-fishing in the Pecos wilderness with
his son, a junior world champion, featured in Outdoor
Magazine last winter.
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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