I have been a professional Artist since 1985 

and a studio and performing musician since 1979, 

making a business of sculpture over these years 

and sculpting over 4000 wood bears 

in a South West(United States) Style. 

These sculptures, cast into with metal, 

have gone to homes and galleries world wide. 

I cast directly into the wood using an "ever luster" pure pewter 

and my own self-developed techniques.

     Over the years,
I have also enjoyed a business of designing and fabricating many natural fountains, architectural fountains, and Japanese gardens, including woodwork(i.e. bridges, benches, etc.).

I had a stained glass business,

having apprenticed with a glass master,  

formed an ancient contemporary drums and instruments company,  including ancient design jewelery, 

started a publishing company, 

love taking photos and 

learned painting from a few masters.

     After learning sound engineering and enjoying an opportunity to record for National Public Radio with some of the best, I am looking forward to another recorded music album.

     I was born and lived my whole life in the United States (51 years) and recently, in May 2011, moved to the Bergara, Basque Country (northern Spain), for three and a half years with my wife, who was born here, and my two daughters that were born in America.

The pace is so different from the United States. The economy moves slower here. Especially for art.

I have continued my sculpture work, recorded music, and with my wife, published an unusual coloring book for focus and self illumination, one in Spanish and another in Basque (the first book was a private publication in 2010) in English, released in Ridgway Colorado, U.S.A.).

In the Basque, we sold these books at a series of 22 local shows bringing the bear sculpture to test the market(lots of interest and appreciation, but the culture barely supports Fine Art, even the artists born here are having a hard time. (It's more of a food and drink culture).

In 2015 we moved to the beautiful Baztan Valley, Navarra, Basque Country part of Spain, where I continue to make the Bears.

 Blessings
Jade Suchness
Sweet Medicine Bear Studios

List of 38 yrs. of Sweet Medicine Bear public showings (1985-2023))

Gold Mountain Gallery, Telluride, CO (2011-2023)**https://www.goldmountaingallery.com/

Dulce Gallery, Telluride, CO (2009-2011)

Interior Design Show, Paris, France (2009)

Lustre Gallery Telluride, CO (2008)

Raku Gallery, Jerome, AZ (2006-2023)**

Lumina Gallery, Taos, NM (2006-2010)

Adieb Khadoure Fine Art, Santa Fé, NM (collaborative works)(1996)
,
Garden of the Gods, Garden of the Gods, CO (1995)

, Santa Barbara, CA (1995)

Alaska Trading Post Gallery, Ketchikan, AK (1995)

Principal Gallery, Arlington, VA (1995-1996)

Mah-Lin-Dah of Santa Fé, NM (collaborative works) (1995-1996)

Mesa Arts Gallery, Franklin, MI (1994-1996)

Edith Lambert Gallery, Santa Fé, NM (collaborative works)(1994-1996)

Hanging Tree Gallery, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA (1994-1996)

Knoxvile Museum,(Museum Collection)Knoxville, TN (1993-2023)**

Santa Fé Trails Gallery, Sarasota, FL (1993-1994)

Mini Mercado, Santa Fé, NM (1993)

Mitsukoshi, Tokyo, Japan (1993)

Shown at the Annual World Book Conference, Germany (1993)
(Mascot for “Bear Publishing” of Santa Fé)

Smith-Kline Gallery , Boulder, CO (1992-2023)**.  

 http://smithklein.com/project/jade-suchness/
(formerly Santa Fe Ambiance)

Dalton-Cordova at the Inn of Loretto, Santa Fé, NM (1992-1993)

La Fonda Hotel Gift Shop, Santa Fé Plaza, NM (1992-1993)

The Cart Wheel, Santa Fé, NM (1992)

Bonham Gallery, Santa Fé, NM (1992)

Pangea – Seed Center, Santa Fé, NM (1991)

Two Bears Gallery, Los Angeles, CA (1991)

Museum of Ancient and Modern Art, Nevada City, CA (1990-1996)

Windsor Bettes Collection, Santa Fé, NM (1988-2004)

Thunder Bear Gallery, Santa Fé, NM (1988-1989)

A.D.A.M. Inc. Art Auctions, Santa Fé and Albuquerque, NM (1987)

Silver Sun Gallery, Santa Fé, NM (1985-2004)

Ortegas Gallery, Santa Fé Plaza, NM (1985-1988)


To date, over four thousand Sweet Medicine Bears have made their way into private collections in homes and businesses around the globe (ie. United States, Basque Country, Spain, England, Germany, China, Japan, Argentina...) during the past thirty-eight years.
** Current Showing Locations

   “Making each bear has always been a spiritual Journey for me.

Giving Form to Formlessness, the bear form......to formless wood and metal,

to achieve a harmonious fusion of both,

with respect to traditional and modern Values,

which brings me into a compelling mood, 

of responsibility, to a message in the piece,

that consistently draws the qualities of my attention,

         ever deeper into the moment at hand,

                      until in final release, the piece is complete,

                       harmonious, full of wonder and beauty,

                       a golden influence in our modern lives”

Jade Suchness June 2, 2022

 Jade Suchness, Native Californian, born 1959, with forty eight years experience in sculpture and
most well known nationally and internationally, for his spectacular wooden bears that he casts metal into,

was the first non-Native American Artist in
Smith-Kline Gallery, Boulder Colorado in 1992
because of both his close connection to
The Native American Traditions in his work, combined with an elegant contemporary feel in the bear sculpture itself.

Jade Started at Smith Klein Gallery in 1992 as Jaime Perless, and later, in 1999, took the artistic name Jade Suchness, given to him by his Oglala Sioux Brother in law, to represent his inner nature.

In 1993, he was chosen, with a select few, to represent 'Southwest Art' at Mitzukoshi, Tokyo, Japan, the luxurious department store's headquarters store.

With a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sculpture/Ceramics from California State University, Chico, Jade is both the Artist and Engineer of his unique metal casting technique.

After growing up in Palos Verdes, Southern California,
then school in Northern California,
followed by a sabbatical in Alaska,
Jade moved, in 1985, to the foothills of
the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Santa Fe, New Mexico, where, among other things,
for nineteen years,
he sculpted and poured hot metal into the bears.

He then relocated to the stunning area of Ridgway, Colorado, where he made his home.

In 2011, he moved to The Basque Country, where his wife is from, and continues to make his bear sculptures there.

PHOTO JOURNAL