Meet David Dezell Smith

Today we’d like to introduce you to David Dezell Smith.

Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
Making art is like breathing. Small wood carvings morph into pendants, clay forming and throwing connect me to my ancestry’s story. Casting silver and copper, I finally have enough fire to live a boyhood dream, watching things melt in the campfire.

Artist or maker?

I don’t need any title, just stolen moments and new tools every chance I get! As a store owner, helping people make jewelry for over 21 years has given a creative center to my life. We are all creators!

Please tell us about your art.
My Wyandotte roots give me a perspective of belonging to the land. I make small scale sculptures, jewelry, and spiritual coins cast from metal. All my work is heavily influenced by a prehistoric styles; Willendorf, the Middle East, pre-Columbian, Native American, Egyptian, and Asian.

Local ingredients inspire me; Mesquite wood, Fire agate, copper, turquoise, jaspers, old pottery, old glass and porcelain from local pioneer days dumps, aspen wood, chalcedony and petrified wood.

I find the stones, cut and polish them, then mount them in jewelry I cast or fabricate. The finding, gathering, sorting, analyzing is a huge part of the art.

Currently I am on a cactus, horse, and thunderbird kick.

Given everything that is going on in the world today, do you think the role of artists has changed? How do local, national or international events and issues affect your art?
Most of most of my art in one way or another is a bit talismanic.

People are drawn to it for not just what it might say to them but what it might mean in a broader context of historical and current events. I also make items that feel good in the hand, items that are meant to be held and touched, or played with furthering the talismanic theme.

I watch the events on the world stage as just that. Events on a stage, the worldly drama. Art should be an alternative to the theatre!

How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I do put some things out at BEADHoliday. 355 E Ft Lowell rd. Tucson AZ, 85705. This is my bead store, so it’s mainly pendants and components that I put out for people to incorporate into their designs.

As far as online right now, Instagram mainly, our page is called Beadholiday and that flows onto Facebook.

Contact Info:

• Address: 355 e Ft Lowell rd
  Tucson AZ, 85705
• Website: Etsy.com/shop/Cowboybeads
• Phone: 520-907-5527
• Email: ds85616@gmail.com
• Instagram: Www.instagram.com/Beadholiday

Image Credit:
David Dezell Smith

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