Benina Kallestewa

Benina has been working on carvings and creating jewelry for more than 20 yrs. Her mother, Veranda Kallestewa, taught her silversmithing. The techniques for carving animals she taught herself with help over the years from various friends. Her father, the late Ben Kallestewa, encouraged her to focus on being a silversmith, to follow in his footsteps. He showed her the techniques of cluster work in traditional squash blossoms, necklaces, pins and bracelets. Her parents have been working on their art for most their lives. She likes both jewelry and carving, but if she had to choose one, it would be jewelry. Benina particularly likes how the finished jewelry pieces bring joy and smiles when customers see what she has created. She mostly works with Kingman turquoise and a variety of stones including lab opal in her jewelry.