George O. & Donna Bennett (Hualapai/Acoma)

About the Artists

George O. Bennett, a Hualapai Tribal member and a Vietnam war Veteran, has been making jewelry for over 45 years. As a child accompanying his grandmother to the Flagstaff Pow Wows, he was inspired by the silversmiths displaying their jewelry. After serving a tour in Vietnam, he decided to forgo his formal training as a carpenter, picked up a borrowed torch and began his silversmithing career. He uses a multitude of gemstones from all over the world. His techniques include fabrication and some lost wax casting. He likes using heavy gage silver in his beautiful and original creations.

Donna Bennett (Pueblo of Acoma) began making jewelry in the early 1970s. After graduating from the University of Arizona, she began her career as an Exceptional Education teacher, but continued silversmithing mostly during the summer months. After retiring, she began making jewelry full-time. Mostly self taught, she creates beautiful and unique earrings using multiple stone combinations in both traditional and contemporary settings.