Vidal aragon biography

At age 79, Vidal Aragon is moving
strongly into his second century as perhaps the premier silver
smith in the 12 pueblos of the Rio Grande in New Mexico. He signs
his jewelry with the bear paw and “VA” merged together.

His name
commands top prices with the Santa Fe trade.

Vidal aragon biography

He doesn’t have to sit
on the portico at the Palace of the Governors hawking his wares
with his brothers and sisters from other pueblos. He comes to town
every two weeks, where he delivers his latest creations to his own
special display case inside the oldest of the Indian trading
outfits, Packards.

Vidal and his family are part
of my heritage, thanks to my mother. When I was young, I would go
with my mother to see Vidal and his family at Santo Domingo Pueblo.
It was such a treat to go there on feast days, to listen to the
singers and watch the dances.

Vidal and his brother Mateo, both now
former governors of the pueblo (Mateo died years ago), would dance
or sing in the tradition of their centu