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! 

Our featured artist(s) in the Navajo Pottery category are Velma Williams and her family. Velma Williams is actually a Shoshone woman who married a Navajo gentleman named Ervin Charley. Ervin Charley was a very talented potter who created wonderful pieces of pottery using traditional carved designs, and colors from our Mother Earth. Ervin Charley passed away in 1992. Velma and her three sons Tyrone, Freddy, and Travis along with her three daughters Rose, Tina, and Valerie have carried on her husband and their fathers legacy. Calling Salt Lake City their home, we feel very lucky to have these premier potters and their work available to us.

Their talent and love of the craft is evident in each hand carved piece. Their work is well known by collectors and is highly sought after. Velma and her family not only enjoy creating their exquisite pottery, they do it out of love and memory to Ervin Charley. Velma heads south to New Mexico to bring back her red clay, which they use on a majority of their pieces. The colors they use on the pottery come from the earth. Pine, cedar trees, wild plants and roots are boiled to make different colors. Mother Earth has created beautiful colors for them to use, like those of the sunset. The hand carved designs are those of the earth, sky, land, moon, rain, and snow. When we get the family's work, it is hard for us to decide which pieces to keep for ourselves and which to put on the site. Each piece is a unique, one of a kind, irreplaceable piece of history as well as art!
(Jill Holmes © 2007)

Laine Thom is our featured artist in the beadwork category here at Indian Summer ^tm. Laine was born in Tooele, Utah in 1952. He is of Shoshone, Goshiute, and Paiute heritage. He was raised by his mother Ardis Antelope, and maternal grandmother Vida Bear, along with his maternal great grandmother Daisy Baker. English is a second language to Laine, having been raised in a home where the Shoshone language was spoken regularly. Laine was taught the traditions and the culture of his people by his elders. Laine began doing beadwork at an early age. He spent summers on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming, and developed an interest in their styles and techniques of beading. Laine was a well known and recognized artist by the mid to late seventies.

The style of work Laine produces is often referred to as "intermontane," meaning several different styles and techniques combined from the intermountain region. Laine began working with the National Park Service at Colter Bay, Wyoming in the Grand Teton National Park in the late 1970's. Here, he is a naturalist in their museum which features a fine collection of older beadwork. He lectures and gives presentations about his Shoshone culture. He began helping out with the writing of several publications, which evolved into his becoming a well known author and co-author of numerous books, including "Becoming Brave" and "Dancing Colors." Laine has had his beadwork featured in many national magazines, newspapers, etc.. We have enjoyed the pleasure of Laine's friendship for the past twenty years. He has much wisdom which he is willing to share with us, as well as his talent for creating beautiful traditional and contemporary beaded items.
(Jill Holmes © 2007)

We are proud to present Harrison Juan as our "featured artist" in the Navajo Folk Art category. Harrison has been carving for the past fifteen years. Born on March 1, 1953 and raised on the Navajo reservation at Lake Valley, New Mexico, near Chaco Canyon, Harrison is a self taught artist. Not only is Harrison an accomplished sculptor, he is also an artist, potter, and sand painter, however is best known for his folk art carvings.

A nephew of Johnson Antonio who is also a well known carver, Harrison married Rena Tahy in 1976. Harrison helped Rena develop her carving techniques and today work on pieces separately as well as together. They are featured in three publications for their folk art, one of which is Pat Eddington's "Trading Posts." The Juans have six children. The older children are all artists in their own right. Having called Salt Lake City their home for a number of years in the '90's, we enjoyed the pleasure of making their acquaintance and getting a chance to glimpse "reservation" life through their talents and labor. Harrison is very matter of fact when he says their carvings depict the "Navajo way of life." Through folk art they capture a magical tranquility and serene look at life which is how we all wish our lives could be.
(Jill Holmes © 2007)

Roland Hosteen and Dorine Woods are our "featured artists" in the Navajo Kachina carvings category. We were fortunate to meet Roland and Dorine a number of years ago while they were visiting in Salt Lake City and wandered into the gallery with several carvings. Their style is very unique and definitely unlike most Navajo carvings we had been seeing. They are best known for their hand carved renditions of the "Zuni Shalako" and the "Long Haired" Kachinas. They put hours of labor into each piece, complete with much detail to carving, wood burning, and painting. Their pieces are contemporary combined with traditional. The figures are adorned with darkened skies and twinkling stars over pueblos high atop ancient mesas. The overall effect is one of mystical delight!

Dorine and Roland have been living and carving together for the last five years. Fort Defiance, Arizona is where they call home. The thing they like most about creating their pieces is coming up with their own unique designs. We are very impressed with the quality of their work, and know that you will also find their "kachinas" exceptionally nice and very affordable. Dorine and Roland wish for everyone to appreciate their "passion for the southwest," which definitely comes through in their hand crafted one of a kind carvings. (Roland passed away on 08/13/99, we hope Dorine will continue to carve their unique renditions of Shalakos and Long Haired Kachinas).
(Jill Holmes © 2007)

Maria Priscilla Romero from Cochiti Pueblo, New Mexico is our featured artist in the pueblo pottery category. We met Maria over thirty years ago in Santa Fe, New Mexico when we came across her selling her wonderful "storyteller" creations under the Governor's Palace. Spread out on a blanket were some of the most adorable pieces of pottery we had ever seen! And sitting behind them was the sweetest, friendliest lady ever, Maria P. Romero! We have been friends from that day on.

"Percy" as she is known by friends, has come a long way since those days with her well deserved recognition for her storytellers. Her work has been featured in numerous publications on pottery and storytellers and has appeared on many pages in southwest calendars and postcards!  Maria's work is sought after by collectors of quality pottery and art. She is well known for her frog storytellers and also her bears and cats. She makes the traditional storyteller figures as well.

Maria's work is available only through the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C., the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona and the Museum of Man in San Diego, California. Maria also sells her work in Santa Fe during Indian Market, and at special showings of her work which she is invited to attend. We are fortunate to be among a handful of friends that she continues to sell to privately. Maria gets a lot of support with her pottery from her wonderful husband Joe, a past "Governor of Cochiti Pueblo". Joe continues his dedication to the tribe through his time and labor. We are extremely proud to feature Maria Priscilla Romero as one of our featured artists at Indian Summer ^tm
(Jill Holmes © 2007)

Askii-Shash ("Boy Bear") is our featured artist in our drums, rattles, and flutes section. Askii received his name from his family when he was very young. He has retained it for use by family, friends, and "whomever would want to know me", he says. Born into the Ma'ii deshgiizhnii (The Coyote Pass People) clan for the Tsin sikaadnii clan (Grouped Tree People) "Bear" has been making flutes for half of his life. He also does silver work, and says if he had more time he would like to continue doing both. "Bear's" inspiration for flute making comes from his study of music, but mostly from Navajo myths concerning how the Warrior Twins had carried a flute with twelve holes in it to the Sun. "Bear's" flutes have only six holes, but some day he hopes to perfect the one with the twelve tone holes.

"Bear" has a spirit of learning the continues to be a great part of his life. Not only learning that which is outwardly, but that which is inwardly, that of the Spirit and of his own culture. "Bear" says: "If I can cause one to reflect a moment or moments as you / I play the flute, then I am pleased. Playing my flutes has to be one of spontaneity and not of any regimen." Ashkii-Shash's flutes are beautifully handmade using cedar, elk skin, natural feathers and bones for adornment. He has tuned all larger flutes, so no tuning is necessary. We hope that you enjoy "Bear's" flutes brought to you by Indian Summer Native American Art^tm
Jill Holmes © 2007

Mary Merrill is one of our featured artists for beadwork, and traditional beaded bags.  Mary is self taught and has been beading for the past eighteen years.  Her work is shown and sold in fine galleries and museums throughout the United States and Europe.  Her tribal affiliation is Ojibwe' and Sioux.  Mary is a member of the Mide'win Society.  Her Indian name is  "Gog-Gee-Gayb-equay" which translates "Forever women".  Mary's youngest son began dancing in powwows when he was two years old.  Mary is proud to say that she made and beaded his entire dance regalia.   Mary beads only on braintanned hides.  She uses all old time traditional materials, including brass beads, aged cone jinglers, old shoe buttons and bells, aged thimbles...and she dyes her horse hair red, just like what was used in earlier days.  Some beads that Mary uses are old trade beads from the 1700-1800's that were traded to the Indians.  She does not use any new or imitation materials in her work.  Mary dyes some bags with natural earth pigments, same as tribes did many years ago.  As an artist, Mary creates some of her own designs, but usually sticks with the traditional recognized designs.  Mary believes the ideas in her head, and ideas in her heart that go into her beaded bags makes her an individual.  Sometimes she will intentionally use a wrong colored bead, just to remind us all that we are not perfect.  Only God the Creator is perfect.  If you ever happen to get one of these bags, "be happy," says Mary..."they are special, and meant for you to get for a reason".  When Mary is not busy at work beading, she enjoys riding her quarter horse out in the woods near her home.
Jill Holmes © 2007