Darryl Dean Begay was born and raised on the Navajo reservation and was raised partially by his grandparents, who were the greatest influence on his life. His grandfather was a well known hataalii (medicine man) and his grandmother was also a medicine woman. They knew the Blessing Way ceremony, which is the backbone of the Navajo culture. Darryl says that he got his artistic talent from his grandfather's clan, as the Totsohniis are known to be artistic. His first clan, Ye'ii Dine'e Ta'chii'nii, are known as healers.
Darryl learned tufa casting techniques from his uncle, Bobby Begay, who is a Native American Church medicine man and a silversmith, and he learned the art of inlay and goldsmithing from good friend Ray Yazzie. Darryl combines his own natural skill and artistic ability in his jewelry design. He has exhibited his work and won awards at many shows, including the Pueblo Grande Indian Market, the Santa Fe Indian Market, the Heard Museum Market, the Wheelwright Museum, and the Eight Northern Pueblos Show. Darryl and his wife Rebecca live in Gallup, New Mexico with their children. |
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