DARREL CADMAN
(Navajo b. 1969 – present)
The Cadman and Reeves brothers are known for their outstanding silverwork, bringing traditional Navajo styles into the contemporary forefront by way of excellent craftsmanship and detail. Darrel is willing to tackle some of the more unusual forms, such as boxes, a type of Navajo silver artistry which, in recent times, has become more difficult to find, especially executed in such a masterful way.
Darrel was born in 1969. Silversmithing not only runs in his family, but the highest quality and classic work is found not only in the work Darrell creates, but that of his brothers, Donovan and Andy as well as his half- brothers, Gary and Sunshine Reeves. Each of them learned from Gary and Sunshine’s brother, David, an artist now deceased who nonetheless passed on a tremendous legacy of outstanding Navajo silver and turquoise jewelry artistry.
This group of relatively young smiths, having all learned much of their trade from David Reeves, the Cadman brothers and the Reeves brothers, therefore, share a common element of apprenticeship and exhibit certain similarities in their work. Darrel has been smithing and selling silver pieces since 1992.
Darrel has perfected the traditional art of cluster work. His most popular work is this style, made from heavy silver and lots of stones. The silver is filled with his traditional Navajo techniques consisting of distinctive deep stamping in traditional cultural patterns. Darrel consistently focuses on texture and depth: some pieces are highly adorned while others have a clean and simple line.
Darrell signs his pieces with a D or D Cadman with a Rams head.
