ZUNI AND IT’ IT’S BEAUTY Eldred Martinez was destined for greatness. It is no wonder he is as incredibly talented, passionate and
that some things are not missed! In these early days of his life,
Kenneth Maxymowich
Eldred has spent all his life in Zuni, New Mexico and says growing up here was “fun”! Surrounded by talented family silversmiths
Kenny Maxymowich was raised and educated in southern Canada and even at an early age was drawn to the beauty of Indigenous culture, teachings, dances, food, and especially the people. Working hard for what he wanted, Kenny had many successful businesses before retiring a few years ago. He’s always been involved in music and after working with Iron Maiden on their World Tours he accumulated one of the largest music collections in the world. After visiting Zuni, he fell in love with the culture, teachings, dances, food and again the people. It’s an honor now for me to write about the history of this magical place and the artists that now have become my friends.
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so well known for his amazing jewelry because his influences have been some of the most famous artistic talents to come out of Zuni Pueblo. It all started when Eldred was 8 or 9 years old, helping his parents any way he could with the numerous small pieces they created. Eldred’s Father Joseph was well known for his flower designs along with Eldred’s Mother Abbie who was the daughter of legend Leo Poblano. Joseph would do the silver work and soldering while Abbie would complete the pieces with stone setting and inlay work. As a boy, Eldred recalls doing whatever he could to help and learn the basics, either buffing or sanding small pieces. Eldred laughs telling this story as he recalls the old pump style torch, and we joke
his parents were his main teachers and mentors and although along the way he has had a multitude of major influences, he considers
himself to be self-taught, self-made. You see this in all his designs and pieces as his jewelry is unique and one of a kind yet historic and traditional. As he continued to learn from his parents, Eldred quickly grew tired of working on hundreds of such small pieces. It was at this time that he started to dream of literally carving his own way with original designs and patterns. He reminds me that there was a lot of “trial and error’.
