the art of Morris Muskett

I’m sure you wonder “Why should I buy weavings and jewelry made by Morris?”.  As an artist, I create well designed pieces instilled with vintage quality and styling.  I also have the reputation for being an award winning weaver and I’ve lead the contemporary, new Navajo weaving movement for the last few years.  My weavings are unique and one-of-a-kind, and will someday fetch high prices at Sotheby’s auctions.  In contrast to my weavings, my jewelry is becoming more sought after.  The exposure of  my jewelry is relatively new in contrast to my weavings.  Collectors of my weavings are also collectors of my jewelry. 

I am also a small business trying to stay afloat in these tough times.  I look forward hearing from you and hope you consider purchasing some of my work for your collection.  Thank you!

I am always interested in learning indigenious weaving techniques. In 2002, I set out on a journey to learn Raven’s Tail and Chilkat weaving.  It has been almost 8 years since I first started to read about Raven’s Tail and its origin in the Pacific Northwest.  I have woven a few Raven’s Tail medicine bags and currently working on a pair of leggings. 

I am posting one of my early Raven’s Tail medicine bags available for sale, and the cover of Cheryl Samuel’s book, The Raven’s Tail, which is currently out of print. I have 2 (maybe 3) more additional Medicine Bags if you are interested.  I am not currently making Medicine Bags.  Please contact me if you have any questions.

	Raven’s Tail Medicine Bag No. 1 is woven on a vertical loom with thigh spun warp without use of a spindle.  Merino Wool. Embellished with plucked beaver fur. Deerhide handle. Fringe finished with tin cones.  Price: $300 plus $8 shipping in U.S.
	Detail of front of the Medicine Bag.  This design is called the Box of Daylight design.
	Back side of the Raven’s Tail Medicine Bag.  Plain weave with a black braided border. Merino wool.  Warp is thigh spun without the use of a spindle.
	Detail of the back side of  the Raven’s Tail Medicine Bag embellished with a Peruvian Coin.  I had just returned from Peru when I began to weave in the Raven’s Tail technique.

On May 9, 2002 the first of three series Changing Hands: Art Without Reservation opened at the then American Craft Museum in New York City.  The American Craft Museum is now known as the Museum of Art and Design.  I had three of my most contemporary weavings in this first series exhibition!  I was quite honored by this exhibition.  My work was so new that I had not sold any of the pieces in this exhibition.  After the pieces were returned to me, all three weavings sold like hotcakes!! 

Here is an excerpt from the catalogue:

“Changing Hands: Art Without Reservation is a landmark new series of three titles that assembles, documents, interprets, and explores the rich diversity of craft, art, and design being produced today by contemporary Native American artists.”

I posted an image of the catalogue that features this exhibition.  I do not know if the Museum of Art and Design still sells this book in their Museum Shop.  Please contact them at www.madmuseum.org.

I want to share with you a wonderful experience I had where I had the opportunity to work with the staff at the Wheelwright Museum to exhibit my weaving during the beginning of my professional weaving career.  I had the opportunity to influence the space in which my weavings would be exhibited by having the walls painted in the sacred colors of my culture, Dine’, but in muted shades of yellow, blue and gray.  The other sacred color is white.  An interview followed where I discussed the inspiration and context in which I created each of my weavings.  The catalogue features wonderful, high quality photos of my sashes, wall hangings, and rugs with commentary in my voice, which was very minimally edited.  This exhibition was featured at the Wheelwright Museum from January 31, 2004 to April 18, 2004. 

I posted an image (below) of the cover of my exhibition catalogue.  Yes, this copy is my working copy so it is somewhat damaged.  Please contact the Case Trading Post if you are interested in purchasing a new catalogue at a bargain price of $10 for unsigned copies.   Enjoy!

Warp to Weft: Weaving by Morris Muskett Price $10 each Contact the Case Trading Post at the Wheelwright Museum in Santa Fe, NM www.casetradingpost.com

I thought I’d share with all my visitors and customers how metal prices on the stock market affects all who are involved in making jewelry.  As I travel to do shows or make presentations, I sometimes see visitors or audience members shocked that Native jewelers have to purchase silver, gold, platinum and other precious metal at stock market prices!  Native jewelers are not exempt from paying market prices for their metals nor their stones they set in their jewelry.  I wanted to share this piece of news with all of you who visit my website.  As a small scale business, I am vulnerable to the changes in metal prices.  This is the reason I have a disclaimer statement that my prices are subject to change without notice.  I hope you find this informative. 

One of my goals as an artist is to educate.  Thanks for visiting my website.   

Morris

Here are two new pieces that are thematically connected some of my latest jewelry.  I feel a strong connection to the variations of the dragonfly crosses both spiritually and artistically. 

I believe my jewelry will find their owners.  Please contact me if you have any questions or interested in purchasing. Enjoy!

	Dragonfly cross earrings with handmade earring hooks. Handstamped sterling silver. Price $125 a pair + $5 shipping in the U.S.
	Dragonfly cross pendant on a 20″ silver chain. Handstamped sterling silver cross.    Price: SOLD

I wanted to give my visitors an update on where to find my jewelry and weaving available for sale. For serious Navajo weaving collectors, I take personal appointments to show my weavings not shown online.  All of my weavings are museum quality and definitely one-of-a kind.  

I believe there are a few my jewelry pieces still available at Shiprock Trading.  I currently have my recent jewelry available at the Case Trading Post at the Wheelwright Museum.  Please check with Robb Lucas, the Case Trading Post Manager, for current availability.

I also make presentations and have my weaving and jewelry for sale at Jennie Slick and Mary Walker’s Weaving Boot Camp class while they are teaching in Window Rock, AZ.  Please visit Mary Walker’s website, Weaving In Beauty, at www.weavinginbeauty.com for dates for her beginning, intermediate, and advanced Weaving Boot Camp classes. 

So you’ve twisted my arm.  The last location to find my jewelry and weaving for sale is this website.  Take a look in my jewelry and weaving galleries.  I like and prefer to sell my weavings directly to the collector.  I want to ensure my weavings are going to a good home.  If you have any questions, please let me know.

I will posting regular weekly updates.  I want to share with you my artistic journey and hope you will join me in this journey.  Please look for first weekly update this week.  Thanks!

 Dragonfly Cross Variation Necklace

Price: $1,800 plus $15 shipping in the U.S.

This piece is made with varying size of handmade beads with variations of handstamped Dragonfly crosses.

Recently, I’ve been working on variations of the Dragonfly Cross.  It’s been a recurring design in my pieces of traditional jewelry.  Just as this necklace has several interpretations of the design, there are many ways to view the dragonfly cross and its development.  Allison Bird’s book, Heart of the Dragonfly: Historical Development of the Cross Necklaces of the Pueblo and Navajo Peoples examines both the prehistoric southwest symbol of the dragonfly and then the influence of the Catholic church.  I refer people to read this book so they can make up their own minds about the origin of this cross  what they believe the cross to mean.   Please contact me if you’re interested in purchasing this piece.