Shawn Bluejacket
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distinctive design Art Work
| Name: |
Shawn Bluejacket |
| Gender: |
Female |
| Place of Birth: |
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| Nationality: |
American Indian |
| Birth: |
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| Death: |
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| Website: |
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| Past Auctions: |
Click Here |
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Quick Facts
| Known For: |
distinctive design |
| Medium: |
precious metals, rare gemstones |
| Method: |
Jewelry |
| Style: |
traditional contemporary |
| Fine Art Profession(s): |
Jewelry
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Biography
An American Indian growing up in New Zealand, surrounded by the vibrant Polynesian cultures of the South Pacific, Shawn Bluejacket gives new meaning to the term cultural diversity. The benefits of her multicultural upbringing were enriched by the diverse careers of her parents; her father was a geologist and her mother worked as an interior designer.
Bluejacket is a graduate of Brooks College of Design in Long Beach, California and the prestigious Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe. At the latter, she was fortunate enough to study with Hopi/Laguna metal smith Duane Maktima and metalworker Lane Coulter.
Most of Bluejacket's distinctive jewelry is fabricated, not cast, from 30-gauge precious metal -- including gold -- sheets. Unusual materials and rare gemstones are a signature of her work. Favorites include carved fossil walrus ivory as well as Queensland Yowah nut opal and South American druse. The artist has also been exploring mokume gane, an ancient Japanese metalworking technique. By combining copper and sterling silver, she is now able to bring a wood-grained effect to her jewelry.
As my work is very metal-driven, color, form and texture are crucial, says Bluejacket. The addition of a rare gemstone is a personal connection to my geologist father, who inspired my passion for exotic materials.
Bluejacket's jewelry can be seen at museums, including the Heard, the Gilcrease and the Wheelwright, throughout the United States.
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Samples of Work
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