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The Santo Domingo Pueblo people are known world wide for their talents as lapidary artists. Bead making is a timeless art form that has changed little over the years. Before the arrival of the Spaniards, the Santo Domingo people actively mined turquoise from what is now the Cerrillos Mine, and made turquoise necklaces which were used for trading between tribes. Each bead is entirely cut, shaped, drilled and polished by hand. Even today, many of the village's people make all or part of their livelihood by making jewelry, pottery, and other craft items.

Lester Abeyta continues the tradition of making stone and shell beads to create beautiful single and multi-strand necklaces. He says it is one of his ways of expressing a connection to the land around him. To see more work by Lester Abeyta, visit our Highlight page on our Online Store.