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Show tw 2 Sun Advocate, Price, Utah ftnwyiimmi g npmyimi Thursday, May 6, 1993 Focus Cheryl and Bob Redfearn show some of the Indian jewelry stocked in their Main Street store. Indian arts, crafts captivate shoppers By LYNNDA Staff writer JOHNSON The demand for Southwest jewelry, pottery, sandpaint-ings- , kachina dolls and other Native American arts and crafts has increased dramatically over the last several decades. The intricately detailed workmanship, coupled with facinating glimpses into the rich Indian culture, has captured the interest of consumers and created a rapidly expanding retail market. Bob and Cheryl Redfearn discussed the nationwide popularity of authentic Native American arts and crafts during an interview Tuesday. The couple own and operate Southwest Silver Company, a unique specialty store located on Main Street in downtown Price. It seems its the oddball stuff that sells the best, Bob commented. The more unique an item is, the more demand there is for it. People seem to want the oddball more. stuff Handcrafted silver jewelry probably the most popular Native American retail item in the Carbon County area, the Redfearns indicated. However, several local collectors also display an avid interest in kachina dolls and sandpaint-ings- . The collectors are especially interested in hand-carvekachina dolls depicting special religious characters. Most of the kachinas available at the Price store have been created by Navajo artists. Kachinas are actually an important part of the Ilopi and Zuni religions, pointed out Cheryl, '& native of Carlsbad, N.M. Basically, the Navajo started carving the dolls to make money. The Ilopi are some of the most talented craftsmen in the world, explained Bob, a northern California native. But the Navajo are moving in hard and fast into the Southwest market. The Navajo are a big influence here theyre a is d big influence worldwide Silver is as cheap as it has ever been, and the Navajo are talented aitists who can duplicate the more expensive Ilopi artwork artists build jewelry pieces from Cheryls drawings. Richard Maryboy completes all custom work and repairs jewelry for Southwest Silver According to Cheryl, some Navajo tribes still function under a matriarchal social system where the women are the bosses and handle all the money. In a matriarchal tri- Indian reservations in New Mexico and along the Utah border on a regular basis to bal system, a woman can divorce her husband by simply removing his things from the home. The husband may also be banished for disgracing the tribe, and a divorcedlnan can never remarry Southwest Silver Com- panys display cases, shelves and walls are filled with a wide variety of Native American arts and crafts. The couple share business responsibilities at the store, with Cheryl creating original jewelry designs and Bob managing the shows the pair attend. Two local Native American Company. The Redfearns obtain additional Native arts and crafts to American supplement the merchandise at the store. Bob and Cheryl attend at a least two shows per month. The couple revealed that due to the mounting popularity of Southwest art and craft items, it is not unusual for retailers to make $3,000 to $4,000 at one show. recent auction sponsored Allard in Phoenix, Ariz,. drew a full ballroom of bidders who coughed up over $700,000 to purchase Native American art and craft items. A by Doug Allard sponsors Indian auctions Indian design watchbands are a popular item with tourists and locals. ' monthly in the Southwest. r These piggyback mudheads illustrate the sense of humor shown by many Native American artists. travel to i f . wall hangings. Sandpaintings like this one featuring Navajo Yeis are popular as , POOR COPY |