Owen and Janet Walker

Owen Walker was introduced to Northwest Coast Native Art as a high school student in Palmer, Alaska. Of Montauk and Cherokee descent, Owen felt a strong connection to the artwork of Native America, especially that of the Northwest Coast.

Owen pursued his interest at Western Washington University with an emphasis in Northwest Coast Archaeology, where he expanded his knowledge of native art and culture. Studying metal smithing techniques of prehistoric peoples inspired Owen to work with ancient forms to create contemporary jewelry pieces. In 1970 he began making simple silver jewelry and is now a master goldsmith. He creates all of his work in collaboration with his wife Janet.

Also a metal smith, Janet often designs the jewelry, which Owen translates into jewelry and sculpture. Janet shares Owen’s interest in historical artifacts from the north pacific coast and has developed a line of jewelry using trade beads from the Hudson Bay era. These glass beads were made in Czechoslovakia in the 1700 and 1800’s specifically for European trade with North American Indians. Janet’s pieces combine the historical beads with contemporary silver and gold work. Janet is also developing a gift for carving. She works in wood and fossilized ivory.

Janet Walker, a jeweler, silversmith and carver, collects trade beads from the nineteenth century Hudson Bay trading era which she has developed a line of jewelry. She collects glass trade beads made in the 1700 and 1800’s specifically for European trade with North American Indians. Janet’s pieces combine the historical beads with her contemporary silver and gold work. Janet is also developing a gift for carving. She works in wood and fossilized ivory.

She is also influenced by other artists working in glass, in particular, Preston Singletary, who was quoted in the Changing Hands; Art without Reservation 2 catalogue:

“Glass is not a material traditional to Native art, but has a defining historical connection to the material through trade beads, which were incorporated into ornamentation of clothing and other sacred objects. I see working with glass as a progression of that tradition. It is important to realize that Native cultures are alive, and it is we who are declaring who we are and what new traditions are developing.”

Janet says she creates trade bead jewelry to showcase what was truly the first glass to be incorporated into the native Northwest coast cultures. She says her work with trade beads is “to be present them as they are; authentic, historical, beautiful, valuable, and collectible visions from the past. It is history seen thru a trade bead.” Janet was a fellow at the Pilchuck Glass Studio in 2004.

The Walkers’ most important collaboration is their four children who share in the family passion for art and music.