WHERE TO BEGIN WITH THIS
EXTRAORDINARY TALENT
Let's see: David McElroy is a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; he is a lawyer - a solicitor in London before moving to Santa Fe. He is a silversmith, making repoussé, cuffs and jewelry that is finished so beautifully that people ask if they are vintage. He is a horsehair basket maker and won a ribbon at the Heard Museum recently. He is also a collector of paintings and gorgeous Native American objects that fill his home and beckon you to linger in each room and hallway, taking it all in. Hmmm, have I left anything out? Oh yes, he just took up sculpting and he has a menagerie of animals
that he has rescued.
that he has rescued.
HIS JEWELRY
HIS HORSEHAIR BASKETS
H I S H O M E
David with his Mother Dugan, also a collector.
T H E M E N A G E R I E
.
I ASKED DAVID A FEW QUESTIONS
Q. How old were you when you began making art?
A, As a child I loved anything to do with my hands. I began doing native beadwork
in about 3rd grade. In 6th grade as a class project we learned to knit a stocking cap,
and I kept it up over the years. Now I make jewelry, horsehair baskets, and I sculpt.
Now that I'm doing art full-time I couldn't be happier.
Q. You are a lawyer - for almost twenty-years, a member of the Choctaw Nation
and an award-winning silversmith and artist...oh yes an avid collector.
Who is your favorite David McElroy?
A. All of those are pieces of who I am, but I have to say
I enjoy creating more than anything else.
Q. When did you know you wanted to be a silversmith, and how did you make that
transition from law to art.
A. I was living in London, working as a solicitor, and came to Santa Fe
to visit my mother. She's an avid collector of Native jewelry.
After several visits to artists' studios I was intrigued
by the process of jewelry making. I thought to myself,
"that's something I absolutely have to try." Once back in London,
I started taking workshops on weekends and in my free time, specifically fabrication of sterling jewelry and hand chasing and repoussé,
which is my favorite technique for jewelry making. The first class
I took I worked straight through lunch and realized it was
what I wanted to be doing.
Q. You have two donkeys, 4 amazing rabbits, chickens, and two cats...
any plans to increase the menagerie?
A. All are rescues with the exception of the chickens. I love animals
and having them enriches my life immeasurably.
At this point no plans for any additions,
but I never say never...
Q. Your home is beautiful and lovingly curated;
what's the story behind your collections.
A. My parents had a beautiful home full of things
they'd collected over the years, and I think that turned me into
a collector from an early age. Santa Fe is a collector's paradise for
people interested in Native art, be it pottery, basketry, textiles,
jewelry, painting, etc. Some things I collect to use as reference
material for my work, and other things
I collect just because I like to be surrounded
by beautiful, interesting things.
Q. What would you like someone to feel when they slip on one of your
handsome sterling silver cuffs?
A. My pieces tend to have a lot of texture through stamp work and
repoussé. I want my pieces to feel classic and timeless- it's a huge
compliment when someone asks if a cuff I've made is a vintage piece.
I've learned that when people buy handmade jewelry they're
buying a piece of the artist, so I hope they get a sense of me,
my story, and my aesthetic.
CONTACT: E - roamingdavid@gmail.com
IF YOU ENJOYED THIS FEATURE, PLEASE SEND THE LINK TO A FRIEND...OR MAYBE TEN FRIENDS.
THANK YOU!
IF YOU ENJOYED THIS FEATURE, PLEASE SEND THE LINK TO A FRIEND...OR MAYBE TEN FRIENDS.
THANK YOU!
