{"title":"Mary Lovato","description":"\u003cp\u003eSince time memorial, the Kewa people (Santo Domingo Pueblo) have traded seashells from the gulf of California and the Pacific over regular trade routes. Pendants cut from these glossy shells in various forms were overlaid with designs in abalone, jet, and turquoise.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMary Coriz Lovato, daughter of Santiago Leo Coriz, was born to the Corn Clan in 1936. She was the third generation from the pueblo of Santa Domingo. In addition to raising five children, she was an accomplished artist. Mary Lovato was known for her unique mosaic inlay, shellwork, cast, and stamp-work jewelry. Her forte was inlaid shell earrings and pendants. These lovely pieces are a blend of the contemporary and traditional styles, but Mary strove to maintain tradition above all. “My mother and mostly my father were my teachers. I was brought up very traditional,” she recalled. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“We have kept traditional jewelry going here because it is worn for our dances,” said Mary, who lived at her Santo Domingo Pueblo home between Santa Fe and Albuquerque. Although Mary reintroduced stone-in-shell mosaics during the 1950s, the Kewa people have crafted turquoise and shell heishi beads for at least a thousand years. “I came up with the shell mosaic work myself. I started in the late ‘50s, in black, white and orange.” Mary then began to add more contemporary touches, such as putting in silver to her work and adding more colors. The slivers of turquoise, pipestone, serpentine, coral, and mother of pearl, reflect the colors of the sun’s glow.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMaking jewelry was a part of Mary Lovato’s soul. “[While making a piece] I’m praying for everybody-not for myself, but for the whole universe. I talk to my jewelry when I make it. I don’t just make them to make them. After it’s done, I say, ‘Whoever it may go to, may they have strength, may they have a good, happy life.’ So that is the way I do my work.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMary Lovato’s work is so phenomenal that many say it has become a standard by which shell inlaid jewelry is measured.  Her daughter, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/garlands.com\/collections\/mary-coriz-and-john-aguilar\"\u003eMary Frances Coriz\u003c\/a\u003e, and sons, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.shopgarlands.com\/collections\/anthony-lovato\"\u003eAnthony Lovato\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.shopgarlands.com\/collections\/isaac-coriz\"\u003eIsaac Coriz\u003c\/a\u003e, as well as her grandsons, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.shopgarlands.com\/collections\/joel-pajarito\"\u003eJoel Pajarito\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.shopgarlands.com\/collections\/cordell-pajarito\"\u003eCordell Pajarito\u003c\/a\u003e, are all accomplished jewelry makers.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMary Lovato passed away in 2024. She leaves behind a extraordinary legacy, and we will miss her greatly.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0610\/6305\/collections\/mary-lovato-garland-s_c696cccd-fc5c-4531-a4c3-471df5d7f2ab.jpg?v=1747950711","url":"https:\/\/garlands.com\/collections\/mary-lovato.oembed?page=2","provider":"Garland's","version":"1.0","type":"link"}