Vernon Begaye
Metalsmith
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Vernon Begaye is a Navajo jeweler whose individual vision sets him apart from tradition while retaining the cultural origins that inspired his talent.
"I focus on clean, straight designs with multi-colored stone inlay influenced by Scandanavian designs", Begaye notes as he describes his preference for clean, simple elements created through fabrication and tufa stone casting techniques. Art Deco, Egyptian design, and Native American designs all also show their influences. "I include Navajo rug patterns and motifs and stamp designs", he adds. The inlaid stones that appear in Begaye's jewelry pieces may include coral, mother of pearl, lapis, spiny oyster, petrified wood, sugilite, charolite and more. The turquoise included in his work is from the Emerald Valley, Lone Mountain, Bisbee, Morenci, or Kingman mines.