ORELAND “BO” JOE JR.
After a career in music engineering in L.A. and Chicago, Bo Joe returned to his homeland of New Mexico in 2012. Born into a family of artists, Bo discovered his next medium when his father Oreland Joe Sr. (renowned stone sculptor and painter) shared with him the traditional techniques of tufa casting. Of Diné (Navajo) and Uté descent, Bo Joe’s body of work today represents a unique hybrid of cultural preservation combined with present day artistry. Bo Joe Jewelry feels the best way to honor the sacred history of Navajo silversmithing is to elevate the art into new territory.
The three lines or three dots shown in many of his pieces represent the three rivers which flow south out of the San Juan Mountains. The Animas, The San Juan, and La Plata have and continue to feed the entire Navajo Nation.
Bo specializes in natural high grade turquoise (Bisbee, Lone Mountain, #8, etc) and the historical art of tufa casting with precious metals. While his style varies, an underlying element of elegance and clean simplicity is ever present. Bo Joe Jewelry is equally dedicated to the core technicalities of silversmithing to ensure longevity of each piece.
TUFA CASTING
A METHOD SOUTHWESTERN TRIBES UTILIZED TO CREATE ORNAMENTAL PIECES.
TUFA IS VOLCANIC ASH CONDENSED INTO STONE
A DESIGN is HAND CARVED INTO THE STONES
PRECIOUS METALS CREATE THE CAST
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LARGE TUFA SLABS
Harvested near volcanic activity and one year of curing (drying) before applicable use.
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TUFA BREAD SLICED
Sized and sanded down for jewelry pieces
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SKETCH
Measurements and design
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CARVE
Sculpt out the design
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FIRE
Preheat Tufa
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POUR
Melt metal and pour into tufa
“ CUTTING TURQUOISE IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS OF THE CREATION PROCESS. OVER TIME I’VE DEVELOPED A respect and relationship WITH THE STONES. A MUTUAL balance OCCURS BETWEEN MY technicalities AND THE STONE’S GUIDANCE IN REVEALING ITS BEAUTY AND BEST POTENTIAL.”
TURQUOISE
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ROUGH
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CUT
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CABBED
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FINAL