| Allison Lee is a full-blooded Navajo from Mexican
Springs, New Mexico, and is of the Bitahnii Clan, meaning beneath
wings. Allison is the third oldest of eight, having four brothers
and three sisters. He remembers sitting at his grandmother's side
as a young boy while she wove a traditional Navajo Storm Pattern
rug by kerosene lamp light. Early memories of her rug designs
and respect for the past are important in the life and art of
this highly-respected jeweler.
Allison's mother and uncle started making squash blossoms in the
early 70's when there was a boom in Indian jewelry. Then Allison
had his first taste of silver smithing when he was 14. His mother
asked him to make her a special ring with a turquoise stone, which
was the last of the three from an old brooch that belonged to
his grandmother. He made the ring easily and well, feeling an
incredible satisfaction in making something new from the old.
This sense of renewal was a pivotal point in his life and career.
Allison has received many awards for his work. Recently he received
Best of Division at the Santa Fe Indian Market and has won the George
G. West Memorial Award three years in a row.
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