“My five children and my wife, Barbie, have been the greatest gift creator has gifted me. One other gift given to me by the creator is the art of making jewelry,” says Ruben.
From Hopi, artist Ruben Saufkie, Sr. of the Water Clan has been silversmithing since 1988 in the Hopi overlay process. He learned from his grandfather, Paul Saufkie, Sr., who created the silversmithing program at the Hopi Co-Op Guild so the jewelry-making tradition could continue into future generations. Ruben also learned the technique of tufa casting and is now combining the two styles together to create unique and one-of-a kind jewelry. Ruben says he shares his life journey through all his jewelry. In his jewelry, Ruben uses the designs and inspiration from his ancestors seen in petroglyphs. He has been sober for over 20 years and uses his jewelry to share a message of strength and healing.
