Acequia Pendant

The acequias near Karole and Grady's home are a unique ecosystem and historic part of their community. In spring, snow melt from the mountains fill the Rio Grande river and course into the irrigation woven through the oldest neighborhoods in the Albuquerque Valley. The Mayordomos, traditional caretakers of the community water, begin their seasonal tasks, guiding the path of water as they have for four hundred years.

They take daily walks along the acequias, bordered by tall cottonwoods and traditional ocotillo fences. The clay soil is cracked and crumble under foot with stamped horseshoes tracks. The sun and clouds reflect on the slow moving, mossy current. The prickly pear cactus swell as they ready to bloom. Light cascades through the trees and glints on the water.

Spring is quiet as a breath along the acequia paths.

2 1/2" at its widest and 5" long, wood frame is 2" in diameter and 1/2" thick, 24" leather cord with copper sliding tube and oxidized copper ends. Gold on model.

OROPOPO is a husband and wife duo who make jewelry, bags and objects in their Albuquerque studio drawing from the iconography of the American Southwest.