Just fourteen minutes from Olympus Encantada is a destination that takes visitors on a cultural and artistic journey to the heart of the Great Silk Road.

We are talking about HoonArts, and it strives to bring quality handcrafted arts and crafts from the countries in that region.

Many of the artists come from Tajikistan including:

Abdurakhmon Nazirmatov

Abdurakhmon is a master jeweler who seeks to build on the traditional Tajik jewelry style. He graduated from the Pavlovsk Professional Art School in 1989 with a degree in metal arts, and he works with gold, silver, non-ferrous metals, and natural stones. Abdurakhmon is also the chairman of the Union of Craftsmen of Tajikistan, which helps supports the country's artisans.

Sodiq Zaripov

Usto (the respectful name for master in Tajikistan) Sodiq Zaripov produces the famous Tajik combs. His creations received the quality certificate from UNESCO in 2005, and he recently took on apprentices to help keep the craft alive. Sodiq does all of his work by hand and starts by splitting a tree stump into wedges. He decorates the combs with traditional Tajikistan designs before drying them in the sun.

Sukhrob Saidov

Born in Dushanbe, Tajikistan Sukhrob Saidov was an engineer-technologist before he opened a small ceramics studio in his home. Today, he is a master craftsman of small ceramic forms, and his teacups and aromatic lamps have been awarded the UNESCO Seal of Excellence.

Kamol Alamshoev

Kamol Alamshoev is the head of the Sharan Handicraft Tourism Center. He boasts that everything started with the donkey as it was the first animal he created out of felt. HoonArts carries his animals along with the slippers, bags, and hats his team makes using the same material.

HoonArts is just one of the shops near our apartments in Albuquerque, New Mexico. If you are looking for a place to call home, please contact us. Our leasing agents would love to give you a tour.