Eddie’s philosophy and motivation behind his designs:

My Culture has been greatly misunderstood. "Skins" is an attempt to demonstrate that meaningful, proud traditions are the heart of Native American Life.

These traditions go back hundreds of years; the truths in these traditions are obvious. The values placed on these traditions are a gift from God and supersedes everything else.

Most of my designs are inspired by God’s gifts and the native tradition of thanking God or asking God for specific requests.

For example Robert Eaglehawk (medicine man) said at our wedding that some religions go to church on Sunday and say “Thank’s God for everything”, we Indians say, Thank you for every little thing and have a ceremony for it. That’s why we have a corn dance for just corn, deer dance for just deer, puberty rite ceremony for our young women, who keep the culture going. We laugh when the government says no more prayer in school. We pray before and after every meal, every morning when we wake up for another day of life and when we go to sleep we give thanks for another wonderful day of life.

When I was married, Robert Eaglehawk cut 4 pieces of skin from my arms to give back to our creator. Robert said: “you can’t give him a Cadillac, or money, he owns everything anyway, all you can give him is of yourself,” The four pieces of skin was placed in the 4 sacred directions. My family was very proud of my dedication to our culture.

My motivation comes from these events and my sincerity is based on my respect for our traditions. My name is Two Moons, which represents, of two worlds; the one we live in, the other a spiritual world.

I am not a medicine man and claim no special powers. I am a product of my heritage.

I live in the physical world, but my heart lives in the spiritual world, where we believe in our creator and his expectations on how to live our life gift that he has given us.

You become aware of yourself as a part of everything and in doing so I behave as though I believe in our creator.

The problem with our society is that we have forgotten that those traditions are life’s roadmap and have deep significant meaning. I hope that my jewelry inspires and renews the wearer as they have inspired me.

E2M

Eddie Two Moons Chavez

Date of birth: 10-7-53

Accomplishments:

Graduate of Gemological Institute of America. First Native American graduate – 1982.

Certified Gemologist appraiser.

1984 American Gem Society.

Designer for Sun Bell inc 1969 – 1971.

Free lance jeweler in the early 70’s.

Designed for Mindlin Jewelers, Albuquerque, from 1975 – 1989.

1989 – present, Gold and Silver Custom Jeweler.

Lifetime member: Gemological Institute of America.

Apache Nation cultural & Historical Organization.

Native American Church of North America.

Member of SWAIA, Southwestern American Indian Artists.

Chiricahua Apache Alliance Tribal Council Member