The first time Alex Alvarez touched shells, he knew that he could create something special with them.

Alvarez has been making contemporary and traditional indigenous shell art for quite some time. He displayed and sold some of his work at the Atmore Area Chamber of Commerce’s after hours event last Thursday at First National Bank and Trust.

“I’ve always been decent at art,” Alvarez said. “Drawings have always been a strong suit. I could never make it with oils and watercolors. As soon as my hand touched shells, I knew this was it.”

Alvarez, of Native American and Cuban descent, makes earrings, necklaces, wall art, bracelets, figurines and sculptures, along with commissioned work.

Alvarez calls his art form shell engraving.

“It’s actually the Americas’ oldest art form,” he said. “The indigenous people of the Americas, not just North America, but Central and South America were doing this in 500 B.C.

“Those designs they created fell by the way side,” he said. “The art kind of fell out. There was nobody doing it at the turn of the century.”

Alvarez said his teacher — Dan Townsend — single handedly revived the art form.

“He’s been doing it for 30-40 years,” he said. “Being able to study under him was like painters being able to study under Andy Warhol.

“As Dan’s slowing down, I feel like I’m not only carrying his work, but my ancestors’ as well,” he said.

All of Alvarez’s pieces are made out of a form of shell, whether it be from the sea or from animals. Some pieces are made of animal shell that’s come from Mexico and as far away as New Zealand.

When asked why he creates art out of shell, Alvarez said he believes this is one thing he’s really good at.

“I truly believe in self discovery,” he said. “When you find that one thing that you’re good at, you give it your all. This is it for me.”

When he’s not creating shell art, the Atmore resident teaches cultural education for Mobile County Public Schools.