Double Star
Local Maker Chris Muka has nurtured a passion for deserts for over 45 years, including building an extensive cactus collection. As a child Chris was enthralled with learning about First Nations people and exploring his heritage as a member of the Cherokee.
Through his frequent travels to Arizona, these two interests united when he explored the desert landscapes of First Nations people there. He felt a special serendipitous connection to the turquoise mine on Ithaca Peak located in Kingman, Arizona, a location mined for over 6,000 years. Among his wares are necklaces that have been crafted with turquoise from Ithaca Peak.
Chris crafts accessories and keepsakes from the natural materials he collects on his travels to the desert and various other locations. He is excited to share his passion for desert materials with the Ithacans of the Finger Lakes Region!
Some of the materials Chris has incorporated into his crafts include:
- Turquoise from Ithaca Peak in Kingman, Arizona
- Dried Wood of the Jumping Cholla Cactus from the Sonoran Desert
- Larimar, a valuable gemstone whose rare color imitates blue water, seafoam, and waves, found only in the mountains of the Dominican Republic
