Bracelet c. 1960

This silver bracelet was made by a Navajo artist, and the when of it is unknown to me. I’m drawn to the rhythm of the bracelet, the way the metal loops and curls. It's like a dance, a visual poem etched in silver. You can see the hand of the maker in its curves and bends. It's not perfect, but it’s perfectly itself. The surface has a soft sheen and the marks of time; you can almost feel the stories it could tell. Look at the tiny swirl near the end; it’s a microcosm of the whole piece. All the gestures relate to each other, and yet each is individual. It makes me think of the work of Calder, with his playful, inventive use of metal. Art’s like a conversation, you know?