bolo ties

Tied up at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport

PHX_WatsonHonanie-Katskina

Watson Honanie (Hopi), Early Morning Katsina Bolo Tie, silver, 14-karat gold, 2009, Norman L. Sandfield Collection

The bolo tie is the official state tie of Arizona, New Mexico and Texas (didn’t know states had official ties, did ya?) and from now through June there’s an exhibition of more than 250 vintage and contemporary bolo ties at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

PHX Bolo Tie 1

Bolo ties became popular in the 1940s and were a mainstay of cowboy culture. Today, the ties are not only stylish and hip, but works of art that are very collectible as well. The bolo ties on display at PHX are from the collections of both the Heard Museum and Norman L. Sandfield and are focused primarily on Zuni, Hopi and Navajo artists and silversmiths.

PHX Bolo Tie_ElliotQualo-BighornSheep

Look for the exhibition –  Bolo Ties – Vintage and Contemporary Artistry –  at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in the Terminal 4, Level 3 Gallery through June.