Visit the Purple Shell

by Tom Ferrio

Many of us have seen Allen Hazard at events like the Charlestown Farmers Market displaying his wonderful Native American jewelry made principally from quahog shells.

Now he and his partner, Craig Spears, have opened a shop on Post Road.

The Purple Shell, at 5219 Old Post Road just east of Ross Hill Road, is a wonderful little shop displaying the artwork of Hazard and Spears plus about a half-dozen other Native American artists. The winter hours are Thursday and Friday from noon until 8 pm and Saturday and Sunday from noon until 5 pm.

Hazard and Spears both have full-time jobs but their passion for preserving the techniques of traditional crafts shows in the time and effort they have invested in their artwork.

They were both recently featured in Native Peoples magazine as nationally recognized wampum artists. Their work is also on display at the Institute for American Indian Studies in Washington, Connecticut (more information and background here).






On a recent sunny afternoon it was a real pleasure touring their shop. I encourage you to stop in and see some of their fine work.