Amelia Joe-Ch

Amelia's traditional Diné (Navajo) background is reflected in all aspects of her jewelry creations.  Though her work is beautifully contemporary, her designs never completely shift from more traditional Diné designs.

Amelia holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Art Education from New Mexico State University, and a Masters degree in Art Education from Indiana University.

In our opinion, Amelia has beautifully redefined the term "wearing art" as you can see here.

Watch A Discussion by Amelia Here, and a Full Screen Version on the River Trading Post Pod Network

 

In Honor of the Mud Clan Pendant Set

"The  Mud" clan are the female relatives of my father.  All clans come from the female people in Navajo society.  Therefore, my father is Hashtl'ish nii, which he carries from his mother.  His first clan is my secondary clan.

Almost all my father's female relatives are Two Grey Hill Weavers.  The Two Grey Hill weavers are known for their Black, White, Brown and Grey Rugs.  My current well known female mud clan relative is Clara Sherman.  She is my father's aunt and my great-aunt.  My father's two sisters, Violet Brown and Loretta Lee are also Two Grey Hill weavers.

I wove my first rug when I was 10 years old and have since moved on to other types of creative venues.  However, I do continue to honor my fathers sisters and others by making miniature sterling silver looms with real sheep wool rugs.

(Amelia Joe-Chandler)

This rug represents the mid to late 1800's weaving looms.  Juniper tree looms were placed outside the home where much of the work was done.  This loom is created from a real juniper tree limb cast in sand.
2.5" x 2.25"

This rug represents the early 1900's to current weaving looms.  These looms are free standing and portable.  They are usually made out of machine cut pine wood which is easily purchased at hardware stores.
2.5" x 1.75"

This rug represents mid 1900's looms called wagon wheel looms.  A style very new to the Diné tribe.  Few women and men do this style, but occasionally you do see a round rug at trading posts or galleries.  The four sacred mountains surround this miniature rug.
3.25" x 2.75"

This rug represents an artistic representation of a loom created with silver and copper by Amelia.  This process is called marriage-of-metals.  The metal rug design is also surrounded by the four sacred mountains.
3.25" x 2.75"

All of the wool in these miniature rug pendants have been created with my late grandmother's (her mothers' mom) sheep wool.  Every piece I make honors shima' sani (my maternal grandmother).  My mother carries her clan and I have her clan as my primary clan.  My maternal clan is To' dich'ii nii (Bitterwater).

The four pendants are encased in a handsome cedar display box that
measures 22.5" x 12" x 5".

Catalogue ID: #3164                         $3000

 

Pietersite and the Wind Storm.  Watching the wind, male and female rain from the safety of home as the storm rolls from mountain to mesa.
 3" x 3"
#4543s    $625

Sold

Morrisonite agate with a Navajo Hogan, sitting on a mesa with a warm sun behind it.
 1.5" x 2.5"
#4544s    $350

Sold

Biggs Agate High desert night in Southern Colorado.
#4545s    $350
 

Morrisonite and a distant warm stom.
 2" x 2.5"
#4546s   $300
 

Fox turquoise within a rug design, surrouded by two mountains
 1.25" x 2.5"
#4547    $250
 

Onyx and Montana agate mothers and sons pendant
 2" x 3.5"
#4548    $225
 

Montana agate red mesa sunset
 1.75" x 2.25"
#4549    $225

Sold

Mother of Pearl with Grandma Yazzie's rug design, honoring the Mud Clan.
 1.25" x 1.25"
#4550    $200
 

Sandstone inlay with plume agate.  Monument Valley after the rains with yucca.
 1.5" x 2.25"
#4269   $300

Willow Creek Agate with the flock flying south to Shiprock as they migrate in preparation for winter.
Pendant measures 1.25" x 2"
#3955     $300

Morrisonite agate as a night scene.  the hoops at the bottom represent female blankets.
Pendan measures 1.75" x 2.25"
#3964S   $500

This marriage of metals (copper and silver) is to honor my Mud Clan mothers who are rug weavers.  These wonderful women are my father's sisters, aunts and mothers.
1.5" x 2"
#3452F    $300

Petersite with male rain over shiprock.
2" x 2.5"
#4270   $475

A Marriage of Metals (Copper and Sterling Silver) in Rug Design.
The corner coppor symbols are used by Amelia's grandmother in her Two Grey Hills weavings.  The Willow Creek agate is cut to represent the heart, and the fringes on the bottom represent the bottom of a female blanket.
2.5" x 2 3/8"
#3291     $350
 

Morenci Turquoise and Protection (arrowhead)sandstone inlay. Arrowheads are used in ceremonies as a symbol of protection from bad spirits
2" x 1".
#3962   $400

Willow Creek Agate on one side with Cornelian on the other.  Fire, water, air, with the fire dancer and the five fingered human being symbol.
1.75" x 2.75"
#3456F   $800
 

Graveyard Point, of agate and horsehair, portrays the wild horses that roam the four corners area of the USA.  "Many roam near my home at Newcomb, New Mexico. 
2.75" x 3.5"
#3183S    $700

Crazy Lace Agate & Eagle Fan (An eagle head is in the stone...a natural find.)
13" x 2.5"
#3959S  $450
3" x 2.5"

Hogan and Rug Design.  Willow Creek and Marriage of Metal process.  The rug represent and the fringe at the bottom represent the  Diné Women 
3" x 2"
#3960S   $550

Dendritic Agate and Shiprock at night, with a cottonwood tree.  Shiprock (Tse'-bitah) is located in Northern New Mexico.
1.2" x 2"
#3463F   $350

Sold

Morrisonite Agate with the Hogan and Eagle.  Female rain falling on an old fashioned female hogan with blessings from above.  (Coral represents the female rain.)
#3961S    $800

Bennett Peak rises above the desert floor and serves as inspiration in Amelia's work.  In Montana Agate.
2" x 1.5"
#3473    $275