Meet Coye Balok | Adventurer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Coye Balok and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Coye, do you disagree with some advice that is more or less universally accepted?
There are two parts of advice I got when younger that I don’t agree with now. 1. Pick one career and stick with it the rest of your life. I’ve had multiple jobs and careers. I’ve changed work to keep my mental sanity and to stay happy. Nothing wrong with jumping to a new job, as long as you don’t create a financial burden on your family. Along those lines, learn to live below your means money wise. Start when you are young.
2. You must work 9-5. This is just complete garbage. I get that if you have a retail location, you need to be open solid hours. Workers will be happier if they get to work the schedule that fits them. Some of us work 10-12 hr days but not all at once. I used to work with a guy that would stay at work til 5 just because he thought he had to. I am more efficient when I work the hours I need to.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve always been creative. Its just part of how I was made. It took me years to realize that I was different this way from my siblings and other people around me. Its hard for me to put a tag on what I do because I am always morphing into or out of some new adventure. I currently own my own shop in Gallup, NM. It started as a leather shop and as my working studio. If you come by you can shop, watch me work or pick out all the parts and have me make you something custom. I make lots of different things out of leather that are functional and meant for heavy use. Some quite traditional like wallets, key chains, purses, backpacks, belts and that sort. I love a challenge so anything else is open for exploring. My shop now has 4-5 other artists in it that needed a place to display their art, try to sell some and gain some confidence in what they make. It is turning into a mercantile of sorts.
Recently I have rediscovered Navajo Rugs. I live in one of the central shopping locations for the Navajo, Zuni and Hopi American Indian tribes. This means I am exposed to many types of amazing and unique art. One of these being Navajo rugs. Most rugs are 100% wool and hand woven from generations for learning. Since I live in the middle of this shopping area for these products, I have access to lots of different types of rugs. I found a style of rug called a Gallup Throw. It is a medium sized rug, woven very quickly and not worth a whole lot of money compared to its counterparts. These rugs were made to be woven and sold quickly to make money to live on. They got their name because the weavers would hold them for up for sale at train stations. When a passenger train would pull in, people would see them, buy them, throw down money and the rug would be thrown up to the passenger. Gallup Throw.
I buy these rugs, sew leather handles on them, fold them at the sides and bottoms and sew them together. I have a heavy duty industrial sewing machine, his name is Chip. I make a large tote bag out of a rug that is sturdy, functional, unique, and is beautiful. I was very careful when I started to not want to lose the integrity of the rug/art itself so I spent time making sure nothing was cut or altered in the rug. If you are to remove the stitches, you still have a Navajo rug. Each rug has part of the weaver in it, like the spirit of the rug. I want to keep that in tact, add some function and send it to be enjoyed by other people. I have taken a commodity, that has little value in the rug world and is not a big seller and given it a new life and personality. I will occasionally take higher quality rugs and make bags from them. I discovered some smaller rugs and I am now making backpacks, small zippered pouches, handbags, etc. all following the same rules of no cutting or altering the rugs personality I have started working with specific weavers now and paying them more money for their art/work so they can make a livable wage doing their work. Most of the weavers are women, but there are some very talented male weavers. A majority of the weavers are older and can’t weaver the big, complicated, expensive rugs any more so these small rugs can be woven in the evening and can provide a good income for them. I have one weaver who brings me all of her rugs. She is making more money, is excited to see her rugs turn into functional art, and honestly be appreciated for her skill.
I’ve spent most of my life around the Arizona/New Mexico native culture. I wouldn’t trade it. It is now part of me even though I am not native and never will be. But I choose to embrace it and try to live with it. I feel that I can do my work, run my business and make money. I also want the to other artist that I work with to be able to have success also.
I believe everyone is creative. Creativity comes in many forms. Mine is stuff that I craft from my hands but it can be in words, fixing cars, teaching, organizing, fixing animals, caring for people. We’re all creative.
I still do leather work, still love it, but the rugs and really the world of fiber art is turning into a big part of my business. I like the changes, I like seeing what I’ve seen through different lenses. I look forward to the next shift.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Awesome! Yes, you are coming to Galllup heres what we”ll do: I’m a nature person. I love the beauty around me.
Day one: I’d take my friend just east of me to McGaffey. Small little mountain community just our of Gallup. We’d drive by Ft Wingate missile range, show some of the old bunkers that were used to house military munitions back in the 60’s-80’s, drive through the community of Ft. Wingate, formally know as Ft. Fontleroy in the 1860’s. Show them the original buildings that were barracks and calvary halls. We’d go up to McGaffey, take our mountain bikes, pick one or two of the 70 miles of maintained bike an hiking trail to ride on and spend the day exploring the 8500 ft elevation mountains.
Day two: We’d take a trip out to Window Rock, AZ and see the center of the Navajo Nation. see some of the old building built back in the 30’s-40’s during the WPA that are still being used by the tribe. Stop and see if we could meet the current president of the Nation. See the famed window rock, right behind the presidents office. Take some pictures. Then we’d head west of there to Ganado, AZ and stop at Hubble trading post. See what life was like at the turn of the century for traders and native and see how they lived together. then we’d head south through Klagatoh to Sanders to I-40. All this time seeing some of the most amazing rock formations, mesas, washes, sheep herds, wild horses and other things.
Day 3: We’d spend the day in Gallup seeing all the different things around. First stop would be a Perry Null trading to see one of the most extensive collections for native art in town. Then we’d go to Cosina de Domingez and grab lunch some of the best red chile in town. Next is downtown Gallup. A stop at City Electric shoe shop. Look for some boots and moccasins. Learn while we are there that most of the traditional moccasins used by the Navajo and Zuni are made right in this store. They also have a belt making company crammed in there too. Not only that but you can buy any leather or leather products that you need for your crafting. Literally the place I bought most of my leather to start my leather business. Then I would drop off those old cowboy boots I have that need new soles. They fix that too. While I was at it, I’ll leave my saddle to get repaired, they do that too. Now I’m getting thirsty so I’ll walk down the east end of Coal st. and stop at Gallup Coffee Company and grab my favorite coffee, vanilla cortato, and sit and rest a while and watch the traffic. Now that I am properly caffeinated I’ll just pop next door to Weaving in Beauty to see what Mary has for selection in wool and rugs. This store buys Navajo Churro wool, dyes it in house and has it for sale for the local weavers. They also carry a large selection of weaving tools and other types of yarn. But we couldn’t leave until we looked into the rug room where there is rug weaving class in process. People come from all over the world to learn the art of Navajo weaving, taught by one of the Master Weaver Navajo instructors. Now its been a full day so we’ll just walk a block or two south on Coal to Jerrys Cafe. World famous for its mexican food. Now we stroll down historic Route 66 and just look into all the shops and stores. Richardsons Trading is a must to see what a lifetime trader has collected. Next we’ll stop in Silver Dust and look around their selection. Now I need a little pick me up so we stop in Cha ‘ah and get a Philipino milk tea and some very delicious deserts from their bakery.
Day 4; We’ll drive North of town and explore T&R Market. It’s almost like a small city. Lots of ranching and western things for sale. Along with a gas station, grocery store, pawn shop, and all kinds of things.
Day 5: This is Saturday so we HAVE to go to the Gallup Flea Market. This is a good place to meet native artists vending their wares. You can buy straight from the artist, visit with them, and put money right into their pockets. I will buy us some fry break from my favorite stand that is made from an old Grandma and Grandpa. It’s the best down there. I also buy a big tube of kettle corn from my friends who drive up from Phoenix every weekend just to sell. Its delicious. But I’m also watching for any good junk that I can use in my store or to make stuff with. Always something to see.
I think thats all the time I have for my friend. We’ll plan something for the next visit.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have gone through many changes in my professional life and different careers. This would not have been possible if I didn’t have a wife who believed in me and supported me. Shannon, my wife, has been a good sounding board and listened to some of the wild ideas that I’ve had and we’ve decided as a team if we could make the change. She has been and continues to be a life line for me. We also have a very strong church family that loves us and accepts us in our endeavors. The support of my wife and my church has lead us to be at the place in life that we are in.

Website: kestrelleather.com

Instagram: @kestrelleather

Facebook: kestrelleather

Image Credits
Coye Balok