Dr. Kelley Hays-Gilpin, Museum of Northern Arizona,
and Patty Topel, Kachina House
Sedona, AZ — The Sedona Women are pleased to present Regional Native American Jewelry – the inside story of our distinctive art forms, with Dr. Kelley Hays-Gilpin, Curator of Anthropology, Museum of Northern Arizona, and Kachina House owner Patty Topel, on Thursday, November 12th at 10 am, at the Community Library Sedona, where TSW programs are scheduled monthly every second Thursday from September through May from 9:30 a.m. to noon.
This program is designed to give insight into the history and development of our regional Native American jewelry – the use of color, stones, styles, creative methodology, and applying unique designs from centuries ago to produce a legacy which is evolving into electrifying new visions of modern times. Learn how westward migration with the railroad, and Harvey Houses, a pioneering chain of railroad restaurants, hotels, and dining cars across the American West, encouraged tourism, showcasing and creating a market for beautiful native American crafts. The living traditions of the different indigenous nations have fused ancient heritage values of status, ceremony, and trade wealth in stones and shells, and often combined that with silver-working techniques introduced through Hispanic smiths, to make an exciting panoply of jewelry styes that exist nowhere else in the world in the same combinations.
Dr. Kelley Hays-Gilpin will trace archaeological evidence to highlight the development and use of ancient turquoise, colored stones and shells in jewelry adornment to contemporary trends. She will also discuss the Museum of Northern Arizona’s collection and plans for upcoming exhibits.
Patty Topel, one of the owners of the Kachina House in Sedona, the largest distributor of Native American arts and crafts in Arizona, will focus on the regional Native American jewelry from the late 1880’s to the present, and how economics, tourism, silver, collector preferences, and artists and talents contributed to the trends and styles we value.
This November 12th program is open to the public, at the Community Library Sedona, 3250 White Bear Road in West Sedona. Our Meet-and-Greet begins at 9:30 a.m., followed by the program and Q&A at 10 a.m. TSW members should arrive between 9:30am and 9:50am. The general public will be admitted at 9:50am, space permitting. If you arrive after 9:50am, you are not guaranteed admittance. To learn more about The Sedona Women or to become a member, visit thesedonawomen.com or contact thesedonawomen@gmail.com.
The Sedona Women are dedicated to making a positive and lasting impact on the community by providing opportunities for women to build relationships, to learn about the community, to support community needs, and to enhance the natural beauty and distinctive character of Sedona. TSW is an apolitical 501(c)(3) organization that respects the diversity of its members and the inclusivity of our community.
