Standing Bear Fetish Carving with Necklace
by Dee Edaakie, Zuni Pueblo
alabaster, turquoise, coral, pinshell heishi, jet inlays
1 1/2” high x 2 1/4” long x 3/4” wide
Dee Edaakie works from a studio recently added to his home on the Zuni Pueblo, and occasionally at his dining room table. He carves with care and enthusiasm. While he has carved traditional gemstones and other commercial material, lately he has gravitated to “found” stone also. His subjects tend toward the abstract but always with allegiance to the animal within the stone.
Dee calls the renowned Gibbs Othole his Uncle Gibbs. You can see the influence of Gibbs Othole's style in Dee Edaakie's creations. Gibbs also has mentored other legendary Zuni carvers, including the late Jeff Tsalabutie, Jeff's son Loren Tsalabutie, Brion Hattie and Alonzo Esalio. This is a very tight extended family who keep the tradiiton of Zuni carving alive at its highest level.
