index

DESIGNS by NELDA

SMALL SCULPTURES; HANDHELDS; NECKLACES; PENDANTS; PINS
ONE OF A KIND CREATIONS IN
GOLD, STERLING SILVER AND COPPER

Biography

Awards

nelda@designsbynelda.com

My art is a mix of jewelry (wearable art), hand held and table top sculptures that can be displayed on the wall in deep recessed frames. The visual thread of commonality that is present in all of my work is the use of organic and geometric design elements;The media I use is Silver, Gold, Copper, Horsehair, Deer Antler and Semi-Precious Stones.

FOUR HYOKAS'
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FOUR DIRECTIONS
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I have an affinity for the abstract and have combined that with my knowledge of the grand masters and my cultural influences to create my art. I incorporate cultural influences with modern designs to create Art with a futuristic appeal. A great deal of my work revolves around the "Rattle", a sacred object that is used in a variety of spiritual ceremonies. Medicine men use the rattle during prayer to the Great Spirit. I call my art pieces Amuletic Forms with Audio Esthetics, referring to the sacredness of the rattle and the sound (voice) that emanates from the pieces.

Hand Held Rattle
Sterling Silver, Copper, Citrine, Horsehair, Deer Antler
(click to enlarge)

Hand Held Rattle
Sterling Silver, Copper, Horsehair, Deer Antler
(click to enlarge)

Hand Held Rattle
Sterling Silver, Copper, Turquoise, Deer Antler
(click to enlarge)

I use hard-edged geometric shapes mixed with soft "pillow like" hollow forms throughout each art object. The colors of semi-precious stones, that are used, are significant. In my culture, red and yellow represents power; in the physical and spiritual sense. Green is the first color a child receives, representing newness like the first growth in spring; Shapes such as the circle represents the Circle of Life, squares, rectangles, and triangles represent how Native people were boxed in on the reservations and their freedoms taken away; Free flowing shapes represent how the spirit of Native people could not be harnessed or tied down. The deer antler and horsehair are used to honor the animals for their special role in helping Native people persevere and survive.