Farrell Pacheco and Rey Rosetta Pacheco

Santo Domingo/Kewa

I went to Indian Market in Santa Fe with the goal of finding some new, young Santo Domingo jewelers who were skilled at mosaic work, and who used great colors. I was interested in both traditional and contemporary designs. And to my immense pleasure, I met Rey and Farrell Pacheco. They are a delightful, young husband and wife team.

Their teacher and mentor, is the well-known jeweler, Martine Lovato. Martine is now 68 years old. When he was only 19, his mother passed away, but she told him to “continue on with your jewelry making.” There are many shell and stone cutters from the Santo Domingo Pueblo in New Mexico, but Martine is an artist that just stands out from all the rest, creating a very identifiable style of his own. He continues to work in the ancient art of fine mosaic, with impeccable workmanship. For most of his career he worked with his wife. But in 2005, she passed away. At that point, Rey, his niece, moved in with him so he wouldn’t be alone. She learned all her jewelry making skills from him, and began making mosaic jewelry in 2008. She and her husband, Farrell Pacheco have been collaborating since 2010. I am so pleased to have met them, and honored that they will work with NAC and create new, beautiful works of jewelry.