“BO” JOE

After a career in music engineering in L.A. and Chicago, Bo Joe returned to his homeland of New Mexico in 2012. Born into a family of artists, Bo discovered his next medium when he was introduced to the traditional techniques of tufa casting. Of Diné (Navajo) and Uté descent, Bo Joe’s body of work today in Wyoming represents a unique hybrid of cultural preservation combined with present day artistry. Bo Joe Jewelry feels the best way to honor the sacred history of Navajo silversmithing is to elevate the art into new territory.

Bo specializes in all natural, untreated high grade turquoise while also acquiring vintage stones from mines no longer in production. The historical art of tufa casting with precious metals is a core foundation to his work and a link between the past and present. There is no mass production or repeated molds, each piece is likely one of one made by hand.

Bo Joe Jewelry is equally dedicated to the core technicalities of silversmithing to ensure longevity of each piece so they may serve as bespoke keepsakes, or handed down to the next generation.

TUFA CASTING

A METHOD SOUTHWESTERN TRIBES UTILIZED TO CREATE ORNAMENTAL PIECES.

  • TUFA IS VOLCANIC ASH CONDENSED INTO STONE

  • A DESIGN is HAND CARVED INTO THE STONES

  • PRECIOUS METALS CREATE THE CAST

  • LARGE TUFA SLABS

    Harvested near volcanic activity and requires one year of curing before applicable use.

  • TUFA BREAD SLICED

    Sized and sanded down for jewelry pieces

  • SKETCH

    Measurements and design

  • CARVE

    Sculpt out the design

  • FIRE

    Preheat Tufa

  • POUR

    Melt metal and pour into tufa

“ CUTTING TURQUOISE IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS OF THE CREATION PROCESS. OVER TIME I’VE DEVELOPED A respect and relationship WITH THE STONES. A MUTUAL balance OCCURS BETWEEN MY technicalities AND THE STONE’S GUIDANCE IN REVEALING ITS BEAUTY AND BEST POTENTIAL.”

TURQUOISE

  • ROUGH

  • CUT

  • CABBED

  • FINAL