Internationally renowned western artist Jd Challenger and 873 Gallery featured local artist Jana Ward will be teaming up at the Art in Kayenta Festival, to be held on October 11-13. Here they plan to premier the Jd Challenger Line, Jana’s latest line of custom-made jewelry.

The jewelry, made of precious silver, copper, semi-precious gems, and antique Indian trade beads, is inspired by the jewelry and adornments on selected paintings done by Challenger. All final Challenger Line designs are approved by Challenger himself.

Jd Challenger was born in Oklahoma and showed an interest and talent in art very early in his life. He was especially close to his “step” grandfather, a full-blooded Choctaw, who developed in Jd a love for the culture and spirit of Native American people. This relationship and love profoundly influenced his art and his life. He worked in oil, acrylics and watercolors, and developed a unique style that has resulted in the ability to paint the stories of a people rich in heritage and tradition.

These pictures show stories that are poignant, regal – and sometimes angry; however, they are always powerful and demanding to be told.

“The thing I do best is paint,” Challenger said. “I look at it as not me doing it; I am just the instrument. The creator, the brush, the paint, and then me.”

Overton resident Jana Ward has a similar approach when developing a necklace inspired by a Challenger painting. She sits alone with a photo of a painting and tries to get into the subject’s thoughts.

Ward said that she role-plays herself into that person’s world and writes a story in her mind about the subject and jewelry that Jd has painted. She allows her mind to bring the design into today’s world, and apply it to today’s style.

“Through that process, the connection to Jd and the subject is made,” Ward said. “To paint that person, who is usually painted from a live model, Jd mentally puts himself in a certain time, place, and situation. He’s there first, and I follow.”

Challenger and Ward will be offering this special line of jewelry for sale at the upcoming Kayenta Festival in Ivins, Utah. The buyer receives the one of a kind handmade jewelry; a Limited Edition (3) sepia glicee of the original painting that is hand embellished by Challenger; and a Certificate of Authenticity signed by both Challenger and Ward; all contained in a walnut presentation box.

In addition to the Challenger Line, Ward will be offering several lines of her uniquely designed and constructed jewelry.

Ward’s art can also be found in Overton at the Wild Horse Gallery.