Jesse Lee Monongye

The following comments are from my conversations with Jesse, observations
 and Jesse’s written account of his life... Sedonawolf, 1998

Jesse Lee Monongye's inlay is among the finest.

Jesse’s designs range from straightforward to extremely complex.

His inlay is so perfect his jewelry often takes on the look of a painting.

Jesse's subject matter is often Bears and The Heavens... images of beautiful night skies.

Jesse Monongye was raised in New Mexico in the famous Navajo rug center
 of Two Gray Hills. His earliest artistic influences came as he watched weavers. There
 pursuit of balance and technical perfection. The beautiful songs the women
sang as they wove. The soothing sound of the loom. All this stayed
 with Jesse as he started at the jeweler's bench years later.

Although busy producing his own work, Jesse shares his expertise. He assisted in the placing of
historic and contemporary Native American jewelry in the permanent display at the Heard Museum.
 He also was the Artist in Residence at the Heard Museum during 1986-87, both teaching
 and demonstrating the centuries old art of Navajo jewelry making.

Jesse’s jewelry has been featured in a number of group and private exhibitions
 and is represented in both corporate and private collections.

There were many major influences upon his work. Jesse did not know his father, Preston,
until he was a grown man. However, he did have the opportunity to work with Preston, who was
 a renowned Jeweler in his own right... and a very powerful influence on modern
 southwest jewelry. If it were not for Preston Monongye Tufa Cast jewelry
would not look like it does today.

I remember telling Daryl and Philander Begay (as they were started their careers), "If you want to
 be a great tufa caster this is where you start the journey... as I showed them Preston Monongye
 bracelets. They had never seen that level of work before. They were excited and it moved them.
 ... much as it did to artists before them... as it did to me.

Jesse always talks about both his Hopi and Navajo background. His grandfather was the much
 respected Hopi Elder David Monongye. His Navajo grandfather taught him respect for the
environment and the Navajo ways of Discipline and Beauty.

The Bear is a symbol to Jesse of the Strength and Power of his "Dine" culture.

Jesse tells the story when he was a very young boy with his grandfather and they came across a
 bear on a walk in the mountains. His grandfather spoke to the bear in Navajo, acknowledging the
 bears strength and power, asking for blessing and to pass safely. The bear retreated from his
 standing position and walked away into the forest. this was a very strong experience
 for Jesse that is part of his jewelry.

Selected Private Collections
John D Rockefeller
Senator Barry Goldwater
Allen Houser
Dr. Alan Title-Solar and optical Physics Group at Lockheed.
Paul Harvey
Goldie Hawn
Burt Reynolds
Lynn Sherr
Lois Sherr Dubin
Eddie Basha Jr.

Selected Reviews & Publications
Arizona Highways, 1979 Rock and Gem Magazine, 1982 and 1987.
Phoenix Home and Garden, 1985 Trailside Gallery Magazine, 1979-1980.
Southwestern Indian jewelry, 1992 The Kiva Archeological Publication, 1985-1986.
Phoenix Gazette Daily Beyond Tradition, 1988, Jerry and Lois Jacka.
Santa Fe Design, 1990 Enduring Tradition, 1994, Jerry and Lois Jacka.
Navajo jewelry, 1995, Jerry & Lois Jacka

Selected Awards
Santa Fe Market, 1979,1992 (Best in class)
Gallup Intertribal Ceremonial, 1979,1992 (First Place)
Od'HamTash, 1979,1992
Santa Monica Indian Ceremonial, 1979
Od'Ham Tash, 1984 (best of Show)
Gallup Ceremonial, 1991 (Best of Show, Best of Class, Best of Division), 1993 (Best of Class)

Selected Museum Collections
Heard Museum, Phoenix, AZ
Northern Arizona Museum, Flagstaff, AZ
U.S. Dept. of the Interior Museum, Wash., DC
Museum of Man, San Diego, CA
Denver Art Museum, Denver, CO
Cooper-Hewitt Museum, NYC, NY

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