Rick was born in Sacaton, Arizona in 1950. He is registered with Gila River Pima through his mother and with the Tohono O’Odham through his father. He grew up on the Tohono O’Odham reservation in the Santa Rosa Village and is usually referred to as Tohono O’Odham. Rick is a self taught silversmith. He began experimenting with overlay in 1976 having honed his cutting skills by sawing out the bison and Indian head on coins. His first overlay pieces used desert scenes from the area around his village. Rick’s work draws upon the land, people and the traditions of the Tohono O’Odham. His creation bracelet draws inspiration from the maze motif found in basketry of the Tohono O’Odham. Overlay jewelry has become his trademark. Rick now gains inspiration for new designs from ants, horned lizards, plants, basket weavers, games the tribe plays, collection of the saguaro fruit and the traditions of the Tohono O’Odham. Rick has sold his work in Montana, Taos Pueblo and New York to the Museum of American Indian. Several people who have been apprentices of Rick’s now pursue careers as silversmiths.
