Harrison Jim
Navajo silversmith was born (1970) and raised in Gallup, New Mexico. He was resident silversmith for Richardson’s Trading Post 1975-80. Active from 1960’s. Harrison was raised by his aunt and grandmother who were both rug weavers. He attributes their influence to some of his traditional patterns.
Harrison is quoted: “When I was a Freshman I had a jewelry class with John Hall. That is what started my passion for jewelry making. I would have to be dropped off for school early and Mr. Hall would be there at 6:30, so I would go into his shop. That would allow me to finish projects early and then he would show me how to do other things not taught in class. He taught me electro plating, tufa casting, cutting cabs, just about anything you can think of.
“Mr. Hall had showed me how to inlay, but working for Tommy Jackson definitely had an influence on my early inlay pieces. Tommy was getting ready for a show and had some Number Eight cabs and I asked him what he was going to make. He was running out of tie and probably would not get to them. I asked if I could make something and worked non-stop until I was finished. It was a revival style piece that he sold to Michael Martin Murphy’s mother at the Indian Market.”
