Some artists take great pleasure in talking about their work: the processes, the inspiration and the finished product. Acclaimed Hopi jeweler, Chalmers Day, isn't one of those artists. Instead Chalmers, who is also known by his Hopi given name, Dap-Hong-Va, prefers to let his art tell the story.
His award-winning silver and gold overlay jewelry does tell stories, of the life of his people, of mythical Hopi migrations, of the Winter Solstice and Kachina Dances, of hardships, of blessings, and of bounty. His one-of-a-kind pieces depicting his family history and Hopi lore are rooted in tradition.
Hopi legend tells the story of Tawa, the Sun Spirit, who created the Four Worlds with Spider Grandmother’s assistance. First, there was the Great Space with no movement, no light. Tawa created the First World, and brought life to the insects. To perfect his creations, Spider Grandmother led them to a great cave in the Second World where they emerged as birds and animals as well.
The Third World evolved to include water for the fields and the knowledge of fire for the warmth. The fur, webbed fingers and tails of the animals disappeared to produce people. At this time, there was harmony and the villages prospered. Spider Grandmother taught the people to weave and to create clay pots. While the Third World was a good place, there were disappointments and problems. Sorcerers turned the people to laziness and corruption, and they forgot to respect Tawa, their father.
So Tawa instructed Spider Grandmother to lead the people who were still virtuous along the upper road to reach the Fourth World. It was a long and difficult journey, and the people were forced to leave their pots, grinding stones and weavings behind, and start anew. As the people reached Sipapu, or 'place of emergence', a mocking bird assigned languages to all peoples: one for the Hopi, another for the Apache, another for the Navajo, and so on. The mockingbird also pointed the peoples toward their new homes, directing their tribal migrations.
Legend recounts how the Hopi were sent to the place where they now reside on the plateaus of Black Mesa in the northeastern corner of Arizona. It is a land of great expanses and stark beauty with colorful washes, mesas and canyonlands. This is the land of Chalmers Day's people, it is his story, and it is his work.
Chalmers is a direct descendant of Robert S. Satala Sr. (his grandfather), one of the Hopi’s earliest silversmiths and a merchant on the First Mesa in Arizona. In 1976, Chalmers was selected to participate in an Indian youth training program directed by Preston Monongye, which taught the art of silversmithing and overlay techniques. Preston Monongye was noted for his innovation in jewelry; he was among the first Hopi silversmiths to introduce the addition of gemstones to traditional overlay. Preston continued to be Day's critic and advisor, and his influence can still be seen in Chalmers' exquisite work.
Chalmers' jewelry with silver overlay and gemstone inlay is filled with images of his Corn-Water clan: rain, clouds, and the Hopi Kachina spirits, all of which are a part of his unique style. Ollas hold water, kachinas watch over corn crops, and native dancers celebrate the harvest. Often, incorporated into these designs are finely cut gemstones, including opal, turquoise, coral, lapis, sugilite, malachite, clam shell, golden lip shell, and jet.
Chalmers Day has been recognized for excellence on many occasions at the annual Santa Fe Indian Market, and consistently wins First Place ribbons, along with Second and Third Place awards as well. The 1993 Santa Fe Indian Market competition recognized Chalmers with a First in Pendants/Pins/Earrings Division and a Second in Buckles.
One doesn't need elaborate research or painstaking interviews to understand and appreciate the quality and beauty of the creations of master Hopi jeweler Chalmers Dap-Hong-Va Day. One needs only to look closely at the work to understand from whence it springs.