Zuni Fetishes

Artist Bios

Ed Lementino is a talented and versatile Zuni fetish carver who carves a variety of figures and animals, but is best known for his Zuni Corn Maidens, and most recently his bear families.  Ed likes traditional work, but gives his pieces an occasional contemporary look and feel! Ed prefers to carve in turquoise and malachite, but also uses alot of mother of pearl shell with his Maidens. Ed laughingly refers to this photo as "looking like a Blues Brother"....but we think Ed is just hiding behind those glasses to avoid signing autographs, since he is becoming so well known as an excellent fetish carver! We hope you will enjoy Ed's carvings as much as we do! 

Rick Kalestewa is a "personal favorite" of ours! His whimsical carvings remind you of Northwest coast work, and bring smiles to everyone's faces! And that is exactly what Rick says he is trying to accomplish with his pieces! Rick's favorite material to work with is alabaster. He gets a kick out of people's reactions to his carvings....he chuckles when he sees them turning the fetish different directions, and wondering if that chubby bear is lying down or standing up! We smile every time we get Rick's work! We hope you will enjoy it as much as we do! (and don't call him Rickson....he says that only his dad can do that!)

Carl Etsate is a long time "favorite" with us! He is a very talented carver, and also a character as you can see from his photo! Carl uses a variety of stones in his carvings, but prefers serpentine and picasso marble. His carvings vary from simple "pocket" fetishes to elaborately carved and inlaid fetishes as well! We love his work, as it is both affordable and traditional! Please take time to look through our fetish pages and see a variety of his great carvings!

Tracy has emerged as a sought after, well know carver along with a number of excellent carvers in his family lineage.  Tracy uses a variety of stones and his work tends to have a very clean and contemporary look and feel to it.  We have carried Tracy's work for a number of years and have enjoyed watching his creativity and his style evolve! 

Here is an artist that has really changed his style and technique over the years!  Randy  started with carving bears but is now carving very detailed Maidens and other figurative and human pieces that boast great detail and inlay work!  Randy hails from a family of well known carvers all famous for  their unique styles! Randy continues to impress collectors with his one of a kind creations and everchanging ideas!

Adrian is a member of the Ponchuella family of carvers and shares a love of carving with brother Delbert Cachini.  Adrian is known for simpler, traditional pocket style fetishes, but surprises you every now and then with detailed stone studded Maidens and more!  Adrian etches many of his carvings and claims that pipestone is a favorite medium to work in! 

Barry hails from the famous Haloo family of carvers that are well known for their standing carvings, mainly bears.  Barry's late grandfather George Haloo is considered one of the most important figures in Zuni fetish carvings.  His talent and knowledge was passed down to his family and friends.  Barry's late mother Lita Delena was well known for her unique fetish necklaces. Barry creates realistic looking carvings but sticks to the traditional  standards that were passed down to him from his elders. 

If you don't have a Fred Weekoty bullfrog, you are really missing out!  Fred is a versatile carver, but is best known for his bulging eyed frog creations!  Fred has been carving for a number of years and tries his hand at carvings other than bullfrogs....his moles are outstanding....but   Fred prefers to stick with the traditional and what he knows and loves, and that is the simpler carvings somewhat reminiscent of earlier days.
 
 
 
 

 With a smile like that, you've just got to love this guy as well as his carvings!  Gerald and his brother Gabe are known for their simpler pocket style etched fetishes, while brother Loren is known for his inlaid turtles. Gerald likes to "dabble" in all mediums, but says he carves mainly in pipestone and serpentine.   Gerald is a member of the "Andrew Emerson Quam family", most members of which are all notable carvers! Gerald's carvings may appear to be simpler old style "pocket fetish" pieces, but they all pack a lot of personality....same as Gerald! 

Garrick Weeka has been carving realistic  fetishes for a number of years, having learned the art of carving from his former brother-in-law Derrick Kaamasee.  You can see the similarity of their carving styles, both enjoy carving powerful birds of prey and working in antler.  Garrick has incorporated other mediums into his carvings, but his "antler eagles" are always recognizable!  Garrick's famous siblings Eric and Calvin Weeka share Garrick's love of carving. 

Jerold, like Garrrick above learned the art of carving from famous Zuni fetish carver/brother-in-law Derrick Kaamasee.  Jerold carves a wide variety of traditional animals and birds ( mainly in antler) which are all very detailed and realistic in appearance. Many of his carvings would be considered "action" carvings as they are mountain lions about to pounce or deer about to dart!  His extended family is known as "the family" that primarily produces the detailed carvings at Zuni..

Tim is well known for his whimsical raven carvings. If you don't have one yet...make sure you pick one up!  He is now doing double ravens which are fun and have a lot of character.  Tim enjoys carving other animals  ( like chubby bear cubs! ) as well as birds, but is best known for his healing raven pocket fetishes.  Black marble is Tim's medium of choice! 

Tyrone comes from a smaller family of carvers at Zuni.  Though few in numbers, they are prolific carvers!  Tyrone's etched "pocket fetish" healing  horses are a favorite among collectors!  His work is always simpler and "clean", some resembling older carvings while others have a contemporary look and feel to them.  Each of Tyrone's carvings have a special quality to them, not only to the eye, but especially when they are held in your hand! 

Ernie " Woody" Mackel  has a unique carving style all his own!  He has become well known for his animals 
"on the run"!   Ernie works in a variety of mediums, but really enjoys a nice piece of turquoise when it comes to "favorites". From racing wolves and mountain lions to peaceful gliding turtles, Ernie has the talent and imagination to catch the essence of all creatures he carves!  Watch for new and exciting creations from this talented carver!