STAY WILD
Welcome to my gallery. My name is Lionel Thundercloud Gomez, and I truly believe that everything has a story to tell. When I’m asked who my muse is, or who my ideal audience is. I say, it is for whomever digs these pieces up in five-thousand years or more. That is my audience. With each piece I make, I am sending a little letter to the future. A letter telling them of who we were.
I’m sending love letters to the future with every piece. This not only tells a story of the piece, the artist, but perhaps more importantly the wearer. Why did they choose that piece to wear?
Or did the piece choose them?
Why are you here right now? Reading this message?
These questions, especially the “why” are important to me. I don’t have all the answers, in fact I don’t really know what I’m doing half the time I’m making these pieces, the process can take anywhere from ten hours to over a hundred. During this time (which is spent solo) there are clues and hints, little nudges of guidance and if I listen closely I can hear them; stones break, metal warps, the shine of the light from the right angle appears, this is when the magic happens. If a piece wants to be made it will be made, no matter how complex, the inverse is true, if a piece doesn’t want to be made it will let me know, no matter how basic.
These imperfections become part of the story.
I am humbled as I don’t believe I am the creator of these pieces, I myself am a tool placed here to tell their story. They; being the stones, the metals the flame and tools, coming alive and working together to form a story. Ahéé (Thank You in Navajo - Diné)
I’m sending love letters to the future with every piece. This not only tells a story of the piece, the artist, but perhaps more importantly the wearer. Why did they choose that piece to wear?
Or did the piece choose them?
Why are you here right now? Reading this message?
These questions, especially the “why” are important to me. I don’t have all the answers, in fact I don’t really know what I’m doing half the time I’m making these pieces, the process can take anywhere from ten hours to over a hundred. During this time (which is spent solo) there are clues and hints, little nudges of guidance and if I listen closely I can hear them; stones break, metal warps, the shine of the light from the right angle appears, this is when the magic happens. If a piece wants to be made it will be made, no matter how complex, the inverse is true, if a piece doesn’t want to be made it will let me know, no matter how basic.
These imperfections become part of the story.
I am humbled as I don’t believe I am the creator of these pieces, I myself am a tool placed here to tell their story. They; being the stones, the metals the flame and tools, coming alive and working together to form a story. Ahéé (Thank You in Navajo - Diné)
STATUS: AVAILABLE
LIMITED $1150 Per Individual Feather
Very Limited. I only make a handful of them a year. Handmade Chain Not Included - Each Feather will include a 24 inch stainless steel ball chain (Dog Tag style chain)
Very Limited. I only make a handful of them a year. Handmade Chain Not Included - Each Feather will include a 24 inch stainless steel ball chain (Dog Tag style chain)
A Gift
Feathers have a long history as a gift in many cultures. The same is true for the Indigenous peoples of North America, especially the Eagle Feather. It is given to another person as a sign of deep respect for an accomplishment or an act that demands recognition. Examples include; bravery in battle, an unselfish act of kindness, a heroic gesture to save someone or something important, a change in life, like marriage, graduation, entering the military, retiring, a birthday, a birth or a funeral and the list goes on. The Great War bonnets worn by the plains Natives, each one of those feathers represented a milestone, and therefore commanded great respect. Each feather earned, yet at the same time not strived for. For these are gifts from others who deem it a sign of respect.
I have spent years exploring different shapes, techniques and sizes to encompass what it means to have a feather, to give a feather to be given a feather. It took me several months hammering out many different versions before this specific one spoke to me. Each one begins with a melting process, then hand mill-rollled to the correct thickness. Cut to the right dimensions, fold formed to create the exterior rachis (the technical term for the shaft of the feather), clamped in a vice and I hand push grave each line representing the individual barbs that extend from the shaft. There are around 60 per edge, and there are four edges of each feather, around 240 individually hand carved lines in the silver per feather. This takes a lot of time, as one can imagine. The tools required to do this must be sharpened, another art for another time.
I then anneal the piece (A heat treatment process to re-align the atoms to their crystalline structure and make the metal, in this case silver more malleable) and yes, silver is a crystal as the atoms are arranged in an orderly crystalline fashion, which when beaten, cut, bent are marred and become work hardened.
The next step is to fold form perpendicular to the rachis, a line approximately half way down, this is my fingerprint on the feather, an identifier of who made this and what it represents. This symbolism is a call back to when I first began silver/metal work. I didn’t have any fancy stamps nor could I afford them, so I worked with what I had. I looked around my scamp supplies of tools and found a flat head screw driver and that was my first stamp tool. I of course made a plus sign, an equal lateral cross, what could that represent tho? Over many nights it came to me what it meant, a cross roads, then taking that concept further, it meant which is this. Every decision in life is a life decision. We come to crossroads every day, with this knowledge and understanding we can approach life, take a breath, say a prayer, ask for guidance then proceed.
I then create the second rachis for the back of the feather, and sharpen/ narrow the portion at the outlying edge of the feather with a file to further replicate a real feather. Soldor this to the fold formed piece and loop it around. I then add my makers mark T(Lightning Bolt)C. The edges are then touched very carefully with an acetylene torch, to the point of melting, this is a delicate art. Too little heat and noting happens, too much heat and it will melt the entire piece. The heat of the flame is my paint brush, it melts and forms unique texture on each feather, furthering its identity.
The 24k gold element is a touch of the stars, to be interpreted as you see fit.
Everyone one of these feathers follow a similar path, yet are wildly unique and different. I will only make as many as I feel like. They are precious, and are meant as a gift.
Feathers have a long history as a gift in many cultures. The same is true for the Indigenous peoples of North America, especially the Eagle Feather. It is given to another person as a sign of deep respect for an accomplishment or an act that demands recognition. Examples include; bravery in battle, an unselfish act of kindness, a heroic gesture to save someone or something important, a change in life, like marriage, graduation, entering the military, retiring, a birthday, a birth or a funeral and the list goes on. The Great War bonnets worn by the plains Natives, each one of those feathers represented a milestone, and therefore commanded great respect. Each feather earned, yet at the same time not strived for. For these are gifts from others who deem it a sign of respect.
I have spent years exploring different shapes, techniques and sizes to encompass what it means to have a feather, to give a feather to be given a feather. It took me several months hammering out many different versions before this specific one spoke to me. Each one begins with a melting process, then hand mill-rollled to the correct thickness. Cut to the right dimensions, fold formed to create the exterior rachis (the technical term for the shaft of the feather), clamped in a vice and I hand push grave each line representing the individual barbs that extend from the shaft. There are around 60 per edge, and there are four edges of each feather, around 240 individually hand carved lines in the silver per feather. This takes a lot of time, as one can imagine. The tools required to do this must be sharpened, another art for another time.
I then anneal the piece (A heat treatment process to re-align the atoms to their crystalline structure and make the metal, in this case silver more malleable) and yes, silver is a crystal as the atoms are arranged in an orderly crystalline fashion, which when beaten, cut, bent are marred and become work hardened.
The next step is to fold form perpendicular to the rachis, a line approximately half way down, this is my fingerprint on the feather, an identifier of who made this and what it represents. This symbolism is a call back to when I first began silver/metal work. I didn’t have any fancy stamps nor could I afford them, so I worked with what I had. I looked around my scamp supplies of tools and found a flat head screw driver and that was my first stamp tool. I of course made a plus sign, an equal lateral cross, what could that represent tho? Over many nights it came to me what it meant, a cross roads, then taking that concept further, it meant which is this. Every decision in life is a life decision. We come to crossroads every day, with this knowledge and understanding we can approach life, take a breath, say a prayer, ask for guidance then proceed.
I then create the second rachis for the back of the feather, and sharpen/ narrow the portion at the outlying edge of the feather with a file to further replicate a real feather. Soldor this to the fold formed piece and loop it around. I then add my makers mark T(Lightning Bolt)C. The edges are then touched very carefully with an acetylene torch, to the point of melting, this is a delicate art. Too little heat and noting happens, too much heat and it will melt the entire piece. The heat of the flame is my paint brush, it melts and forms unique texture on each feather, furthering its identity.
The 24k gold element is a touch of the stars, to be interpreted as you see fit.
Everyone one of these feathers follow a similar path, yet are wildly unique and different. I will only make as many as I feel like. They are precious, and are meant as a gift.
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.999 Fine Silver with 24k Gold accents featuring and cut Kingman Turquoise and Natural Mediterranean coral. This unique piece took eight separate casts to create, each one hand carved.
STATUS: INQUIRE
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STATUS: SOLD - Tuf Cast Pendant .999 Silver - Private Collector
STATUS - SOMEWHERE IN THE WILD
Coffin shaped onyx, a gentle reminder that death dwells on the other side of life. A reminder to live! This piece is hand rolled, with accents of 24k gold. The three holes represent empty spaces in our heart. One for those who have passed on, there is a space for them. One for those we love and care for but are far away, perhaps in another state or country, there is a space for you. And finally, there is a space for those wonderful people we have yet to meet.
STATUS: AVAILABLE
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STATUS: SOLD - WARPATH CUFF - $12,000 USD
Warpath - Not to be taken lightly and is usually the last resort. Warriors dedicated their lives to living in peace with their surroundings, with nature, animals, climate and each other. What separates a Warrior is they must be able to accept that they may have to inflict harm and possibly death on an opponent and also come to terms with them, themselves being the receiver of grave physical harm and/or death. They go into the field of battle for what they believe is the good of their community, they enter that arena with a pure soul and honor, respecting all, and willing to delve out and potentially die for what they believe in. This is the warriors code.
STATUS: PRIVATE SALE
STATUS: SPOKEN FOR
STATUS: AVAILABLE $231,000
1:1 Collab Coat Kayla Lookinghorse - Styled by Lionel Thundercloud
STATUS: LIST PRICE 60K
One Of One Design For Indigenous Enterprise - Kenneth Shirley
STATUS: One of One Collaboration with Pyet DeSpain
STATUS: AVAILABLE
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STATUS: AVAILABLE-ISH
$135,000
STATUS: SOLD - PRIVATE COLLECTOR $11,500
STATUS: LOST - Which is ironic considering its origin story. Somewhere in my shop, or perhaps went down with my boat. Once again, every piece has its own journey and story to tell.
STATUS: SEMI-AVAILABLE
$91,300
STATUS: GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
