Arland Ben
Where did you grow up?
I grew up everywhere. I attended elementary school in Blanding and Montezuma Creek, Utah. My middle school and high school years were in San Bernadino, California.
How was that, going from the rural Four Corners to urban California?
It was a culture shock. Overtime it was nice because I knew I would get a break from both.
After high school what did you do?
I attended Brigham Young University in Utah.
What did you study?
Well I wanted to be a doctor so I started in physics. Eventually I changed to fine arts, and that was a good choice.
Is that when you started making jewelry?
No, we did a lot of painting and sculptor work.
What did you like to paint, and did your work have Native American themes?
I did a lot of portraits and some sculptor work, but it wasn’t Native American themed.
So you finished school, when did you start making jewelry?
I starting making jewelry in the late 1980s.
Are you doing this fulltime?
No, around the same time I started doing rehearsals for parts in movies
How does this happen?
Well I'm with a friend at the 1991 Gathering of Nations and this talent scout comes up to me and gets me an audition.
Had you ever acted before?
No.
What kind of part did you audition for?
It was for the character Uncas in the Last of the Mohicans. I was one of 10,000 actors who auditioned for the role and I made it to the final four.
That is pretty impressive for your audition. How long does an audition like this last?
From the beginning to the end took about a month. By the time it was winding down to the finalist I started to feel a bit more comfortable. I knew I wasn’t going to get the part, but it created an interest that I would pursue more.
Was that the end of your association to the Last of the Mohicans?
No, I was in the movie as part of the main Mohican tribe and did some stunt work.
How did you like doing stunts?
Last of the Mohicans changed the way action films were filmed. The close up action and killing that you see in today’s films began with that movie.
What movie did you audition for next?
I did auditions for Geronimo, Maverick and Buffalo Girls.
Did you ever land a role?
Yes. Back in 1993, I landed a role in the movie Maverick, but had to decline due to my son being born. After I started my family, I wanted to put movies on hold until my boys graduated from high school. My youngest son has two years left.
So are you going to do movies again?
I think it is something I might pursue again.
So you've started a jewelry career and have done some acting, what about rodeo?
I grew up riding horses and was always around rodeo. In the late 1990s I decided to try competitive saddle bronc riding. I was in my mid 30s when I started rodeo.
You do some Hollywood movie stunt work and saddle bronc riding. Things that take a lot of athletic ability, where does this come from?
I was a wrestler growing up and wrestled in college at BYU. My coach was Bill Henderson in California whose son is Dan Henderson.
Wow, that is very impressive. Did you do anything after college with wresting?
I helped coach in Moriarty for 25 years. Moriarty has produced National Champions and has been ranked as high as number four in the Nation.
Do you do anything full-time?
I like to try everything. I don’t want to just do one thing.
What are you into now?
Well as of lately I've been putting a lot of energy into photography. I just finished taking a series of photographs at this year’s Gathering of Nations. Lots of traditional Pow Wow Dancers.
Where do you show these images?
You can check them out on my Facebook page.
A lot is talked about your jewelry, what inspired you to do those petroglyph figures?
Growing up in the Four Corners you always saw them on the rocks. They always interested me and I knew that one day I would do something with those figures.
We are thankful that you decided to use them in your jewelry art. Thank you for your time.
