The Sunshine Studio website features a wealth of antique and contemporary Native American art as well as information about the art and its creators. We specialize in Zuni fetish carvings and Native American jewelry. My wife Challis and I began operating the Sunshine Studio gallery from our Santa Fe, New Mexico home in 1975. We took our business online in 1995.
We are a full member of the Antique Tribal Arts Dealers Association, Inc. (ATADA). We are a home-based Native American art business with substantially lower markup than retail stores. We request that phone orders are placed between 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Mountain Time M - F to 1-800-348-9273. You can place orders over the weekend; utilizing the shopping cart & the order will ship on the following Monday.
We are a full member of the Antique Tribal Arts Dealers Association, Inc. (ATADA). We are a home-based Native American art business with substantially lower markup than retail stores. We request that phone orders are placed between 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Mountain Time M - F to 1-800-348-9273. You can place orders over the weekend; utilizing the shopping cart & the order will ship on the following Monday.
Services
We have included a list of 13 carvers that are in their late twenties to mid forties.
Carvers who we think have contributed to further along the fetish dialogue.
Most of the carvers have unique styles that they have created on their own or they come from carving families yet they have found a way to set their carvings apart from their carving parents, uncles, aunts and grandparents.
It is comforting to know that a 'young one' is stepping up and finding their voice in a medium as old as time itself.
Carvers who we think have contributed to further along the fetish dialogue.
Most of the carvers have unique styles that they have created on their own or they come from carving families yet they have found a way to set their carvings apart from their carving parents, uncles, aunts and grandparents.
It is comforting to know that a 'young one' is stepping up and finding their voice in a medium as old as time itself.
Realistic carvers delight in the literal depiction of animals, they excel in the execution of concrete, minute detail.
All the carvers started out learning the traditional approach to carving animals through their family connections.
Don Sharp, an administrator with the Federal Young American Conservation Corps, was the first to encourage and promote realistic carving in Zuni.
Dan Quam, his half brothers' Lance, Fabian & Wilfred Cheama & their sister; Arvella - were the first family to develop the realistic style.
All the carvers started out learning the traditional approach to carving animals through their family connections.
Don Sharp, an administrator with the Federal Young American Conservation Corps, was the first to encourage and promote realistic carving in Zuni.
Dan Quam, his half brothers' Lance, Fabian & Wilfred Cheama & their sister; Arvella - were the first family to develop the realistic style.
Zuni fetishes usually depict animals, especially their eyes, claws, teeth, heightened senses and connection with elemental forces.
These carvings are meant to evoke animal spirits who are the messengers of the Creator.
Zuni fetishes and their power/protection animals also appear in jewelry, for example, the Zuni fetish necklace.
At Sunshine Studio, you'll discover a wondrous collection of Zuni fetish carvings that will delight your eyes and move your spirit.
Our art is primarily organized by artist, but you can also browse by animal, carving material or price.
These carvings are meant to evoke animal spirits who are the messengers of the Creator.
Zuni fetishes and their power/protection animals also appear in jewelry, for example, the Zuni fetish necklace.
At Sunshine Studio, you'll discover a wondrous collection of Zuni fetish carvings that will delight your eyes and move your spirit.
Our art is primarily organized by artist, but you can also browse by animal, carving material or price.
Common animal fetishes include bears, moles, badgers, wolves, mountain lions, foxes, coyotes and birds.
Less common fetishes include domestic creatures such as goats, sheep, horses and cows, as well as snakes, frogs and turtles.
Real and symbolic figures such as corn maidens are often carved.
Tied to the back of many fetishes are medicine bundles, tightly bound with sinew.
Coral in the bundle represents ocean life, blue represents birds, black represents night creatures, brown is earth and white is winter.
Less common fetishes include domestic creatures such as goats, sheep, horses and cows, as well as snakes, frogs and turtles.
Real and symbolic figures such as corn maidens are often carved.
Tied to the back of many fetishes are medicine bundles, tightly bound with sinew.
Coral in the bundle represents ocean life, blue represents birds, black represents night creatures, brown is earth and white is winter.
Zuni society recognizes six cardinal directions.
Each direction is represented by a fetish of a different color; the fetish is the guardian of its regions and is the master of the medicine powers for that region.
Each animal has a different power, and the choice of animal depends on the purpose for which the fetish is intended.
For example, a hunter in quest of a deer would use a mountain lion fetish as the deer is the natural prey of the mountain lion.
Fetishism can be extremely complicated - each animal can have six varieties of colors representing alternate powers.
Each direction is represented by a fetish of a different color; the fetish is the guardian of its regions and is the master of the medicine powers for that region.
Each animal has a different power, and the choice of animal depends on the purpose for which the fetish is intended.
For example, a hunter in quest of a deer would use a mountain lion fetish as the deer is the natural prey of the mountain lion.
Fetishism can be extremely complicated - each animal can have six varieties of colors representing alternate powers.
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