Drum Making

The late Santiago "Jim" Herrera, was Arnold Herrera’s father, teacher,and mentor. Arnold worked alongside his dad learning the intricate and intimate knowledge of Herrera’s elders. After his father’s death, Arnold was left to fill numerous orders that his father had not been able to complete due to illness.

Since that time, Arnold has become an accomplished drum maker and silversmith in his own right. He is now passing on this extensive art knowledge and technology to his three sons, Tim, Carlos, and Thomas. They are learning and making their own styles of jewelry as well as exploring other forms of self-expression in wood, clay, metal, and on paper.

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Drum Making Among the Cochiti Pueblo

The drum making process starts with cleaning the wood....
(Real Audio 91 Kb)
Arnold demonstrates how to process aspen wood.
(Real Audio 152 Kb)