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Native American Artists: JewelersBruce Hodgins, Silver-GoldsmithBruce Hodgins is a true artist in precious metals. He combines the traditions of two great peoples — the Hopi and the Navajo. He is equally at home creating competition-quality Hopi overlay jewelry, Navajo jewelry, or combining the two into his own beautiful flowing designs. Bruce was born in 1959 in Flagstaff, Arizona. Although his father was not Native American, his entire adult life was devoted to Indian education. He worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs for 36 years as a teacher, principal, administrator, and superintendent of schools on several reservations. These include the Hualapai, San Carlos Apache, and Hopi in Arizona. He met and married the former Mary Eleanor Dodge, the great granddaughter of the legendary Navajo Chief, Chee Dodge, while serving on the Hualapai Reservation. When Bruce was born, according to Navajo custom, he was born into his mother’s clan. He therefore was a member of the Navajo tribe and his mother’s clan. He has a Navajo census number. After Bruce’s birth the family lived on the Hopi reservation for approximately 20 years. Mr. Hodgins was superintendent of schools. Bruce went to school on the Reservation, at the boarding school in Winslow. He also graduated from the Northern Pioneer College’s Hopi Extension School. Bruce later moved to Flagstaff and studied biology at Northern Arizona University. Throughout his school days, Bruce studied silversmithing under the tutelage of the Hopi master silversmith Sidney Secakuku Jr. Bruce also took courses in silver work in high school and in college. But as he states, this was largely so he could use the school’s modern equipment and shop — he already had the skills. Bruce excels at the Hopi overlay technique using the traditional designs and style taught him by Mr. Secakuku. His Navajo background and heritage, coupled with the jewelry courses he took under Navajo teachers, gave him complete command of the techniques associated with the Navajo. Bruce has taken these two disciplines, added his own interpretation, and created a style clearly identified as his own. Bruce has understandable pride in his work and his individuality. He will create, from scratch, a piece which will include overlay work, a stone mounted in a handmade, filed bezel and all accented by the difficult technique of reticulation. At this time, Bruce maintains his own silver shop at the Flagstaff Art Bam. Here he does custom work for most of Flagstaffs’ jewelry stores, trading posts, and for Americana Indian Shows. He also provides a repair service for these same retail outlets. Bruce has seriously considered entering competitions, where he undoubtedly would have excelled. But, in doing so he would have had to take time away from his business. Although he has yet to enter competition, he has not ruled out the possibility of doing so in the future. Bruce is unmarried and is an avid outdoorsman who spends most of his leisure time hunting or fishing. Bruce owns his own fishing boat and to be invited to spend a day with him either on his boat or in the woods hunting is an education in itself. Knowing this, one can sense the freedom as well as the discipline of his life in his jewelry creations. Bruce either hallmarks his work LBH (the “L” is for
Leroy, a name he does not use) or with a stamp depicting a bass
— a tribute to fishing.
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