Jay McCray

MATERIAL/TECHNIQUE:
I design and create authentic southwestern Navajo Indian jewelry, specializing in handmade and handcrafted accessories. My line of earrings, rings and necklaces are quality classic and one of a kind. My jewelry is forged from heavy gauge sterling silver and set with semiprecious stones like turquoise, jet, coral and various types of shells. I enjoy working with natural turquoise stones like water web Kingman, sleeping beauty and Morenci. I learned to silversmith from my grandparents and my parents who also make jewelry. More recently I began experimenting with lapidary work and inlay. My work varies from very traditional to contemporary. I feel that as an artist we learn the basics from our teachers and slowly develop our own style. My style speaks to an earlier time period because I am inspired by jewelry from the 1940s but with a contemporary feel. Eventually, I would like to make a silver bridle or head stall for a horse.