Quiet and humble with a warm smile,
Verma Nequatewa, otherwise known as
Sonwai, the Hopi name by which she
signs her pieces, which means beautiful,
is recognized around the world as an
award-winning jewelry designer and stone
inlay master. Trained under her uncle, the
well-known jeweler Charles Loloma
(1921 – 1991), Verma’s work, like his, takes
inspiration from the landscape and culture
of the Hopi people, who reside in 12 villages on three mesas, comprising more than 1.5 million acres in Northeastern Arizona.
Verma is particularly proud of her Hopi heritage. A member of the Badger clan, one of the oldest and most respected clans within Hopi, she takes her obligation to her people and its history very seriously. And whereas her brother is responsible for events in the Kiva during Powamu (Bean Dance), Nequatewa is responsible for keeping everyone happy and fed. (Verma makes an excellent piki, a delicate paper-thin, blue corn bread made from blue corn meal, ash, and spring water!) And to understand what it means to take her role seriously, incorporating the culture and landscape both into her daily practice and into her work, one must first understand a bit about Hopi itself. (see inset)
Above:
Verma Nequatewa and Charles Loloma
All Photos Courtesy of:
Verma Nequatewa and Robert Rhodes
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