Remembering Jesse Monongye – Artwork Jewellery Discussion board

Jesse Monongye, Navajo (Diné), ca. 2010, picture courtesy of Heard Museum, © Studio Seven Productions

Jeweler Jesse Monongye was identified for the technical excellence and great thing about the intricate inlay jewellery he created. He started making jewellery in 1975, having discovered a few of the primary metalworking expertise by observing his father, Preston Monongye, and lapidary expertise by watching Lee Yazzie.

Monongye, his brother, and sister have been raised by Navajo kin within the Chuska Mountains close to Two Gray Hills, in Arizona. After graduating from Fort Wingate Excessive College, Monongye labored initially as a heavy-equipment operator. He enlisted in america Marines in 1972 and was stationed in Vietnam for 18 months.

Jesse Monongye, Bracelet — Jesse Monongye, *Bracelet,* 1980, turquoise, jet, coral, malachite, shell, dolomite, silver, Heard Museum Assortment, Reward of the artist, NA-SW-NA-J-463, picture courtesy of Heard Museum

In 1975, Monongye was reunited along with his father, who had turn out to be a well known jeweler. From 1975–1977, Monongye lived and apprenticed along with his father at his house and studio in Paradise Valley, AZ. The 2 collaborated on jewellery throughout the time, with Preston creating the metalwork and Monongye the stone inlay. Monongye had the chance to look at a number of different gifted jewelers whose work he admired, together with Charles Loloma, Lee Yazzie, and Dennis Edaakie.

Jesse Monongye, Bear Pendant — Jesse Monongye, *Bear Pendant,* ca. 1990, jet, coral, malachite, turquoise, shell, 14-karat gold, Heard Museum Assortment, Reward of Anrea and Robert Morrison, 4908-1, picture courtesy of Heard Museum

The primary jewellery merchandise Monongye made on his personal throughout his apprenticeship along with his father was a bear pendant. It received the Better of Jewellery Award on the 1977 Annual Hopi Market on the Museum of Northern Arizona, in Flagstaff. Monongye’s bear would turn out to be a signature piece for him and an icon of Southwestern fashion.

Jesse Monongye, Ring — Jesse Monongye, *Ring,* Nineteen Nineties, lapis lazuli, jet, coral, turquoise, opal, 14-karat gold, Heard Museum Assortment, Reward of the property of James Widener Ray, 4463-4, picture courtesy of Heard Museum

In 1978, Monongye arrange his personal studio and initially labored with three different jewelers. Inside a 12 months, he went into enterprise alone. Success got here shortly as he started to win awards at prestigious exhibits. Extra recognition for his work shortly adopted. Monongye was one in every of 15 artists featured within the pivotal April 1979 challenge of Arizona Highways. The journal was taking a number one position in that includes up to date Native artists. Different awards included Better of Present on the Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial Arts and Crafts Present in Gallup in 1978 and once more in 1991, Better of Division at Santa Fe Market in 1992 and 1994, and Better of Present on the 40^th Annual Heard Museum Guild Indian Honest & Market in 1998.

Jesse Monongye, Necklace and Pendant — Jesse Monongye, *Necklace and Pendant,* Nineteen Nineties, lapis lazuli, jet, coral, turquoise, dolomite, opal, sugilite, 14-karat gold, Heard Museum Assortment, Reward of the property of James Widener Ray, 4463-2, picture courtesy of Heard Museum

Jesse Monongye, Necklace and Pendant (back) — Jesse Monongye, *Necklace and Pendant* (again), Nineteen Nineties, lapis lazuli, jet, coral, turquoise, dolomite, opal, sugilite, 14-karat gold, Heard Museum Assortment, Reward of the property of James Widener Ray, 4463-2, picture courtesy of Heard Museum

In 2002, Lois Sherr Dubin revealed the definitive biography Jesse Monongya: Opal Bears and Lapis Skies. The e book chronicled Monongye’s profession and captured the intricacy of Monongye’s tremendous inlay and the range of his designs. The Heard Museum, in Phoenix, AZ, US, held a one-person exhibition of Monongye’s work in 2010. Monongye was a featured artist within the PBS collection Craft in America in 2021.

Jesse Monongye, Ranger Set — Jesse Monongye, *Ranger Set,* 2005, candelaria turquoise, diamond, ruby, opal, 14-karat gold, Heard Museum Assortment, present of the artist, 4366-1, picture courtesy of Heard Museum

Monongye’s jewellery depictions of Monument Valley with the night time sky overhead are breathtaking. Lapis lazuli skies maintain huge opal harvest moons, comets in multi-colored stones flash throughout the skies, and yucca develop beneath. Set in buckles, these have the beautiful look of miniature work framed in gold. A necklace Monongye made for a Barbie doll collector illustrated his consideration to element in addition to his sense of caprice. He carved small high-heeled shoe-shaped pendants out of quite a lot of stones that ranged from inexperienced gaspéite, blue lapis lazuli, pink and orange coral, and black jet. These and different jewellery creations by Monongye function an enduring testomony to his creativity and expertise.

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