August 2008
CPM August 2008
Fetish bowl, artist: Quanita and Jack Kalestewa, Zuni (A:shiwi)
Gift of Richard and Jean Wilson
Dimensions: H:2” W: 5 ¾” D: 2 ¾”
87.2.1
The Zuni, who call themselves A:shiwi, believe that the elements of water, earth and sky are interconnected and belong to one great system. This connection between animals and nature has been expressed through their myths and passed down through generations. The myths give the Zuni insight into their connection with all living and inanimate things and help perpetuate their cultural traditions. As an intermediary to the earthly elements, a stone fetish is used to connect people with the forces of nature. Carved from stone in the shape of animals, each fetish possesses a spirit which is said to have inherent powers. A fetish may assist in bringing rain, ensure a bountiful harvest, or aid a successful hunting trip. The first fetishes were stones which naturally formed an animal shape. Over time the Zuni began to carve their own fetishes for trade or personal use, creating a distinctive new art form that are considered collectable art pieces today.
Many Zuni ceremonies focus on rain because of its scarcity in the desert Southwest and its importance to life; thus symbols for water and rain are often represented on Zuni pottery. Often the sides of a fetish bowl will have four stepped sides, representing clouds at all four directions. Sacred for their association with water, rain and moisture, frog and tadpole symbols are used in ceremonies asking for rain. Many frog-shaped fetishes have been found buried near natural water holes, lakes and streams. Considered one of the most important, if not the most important rain-bringing fetish, frogs are also associated with abundance.
Fetishes are offered cornmeal in a fetish bowl intended for ceremonial use. The bowls are made of pottery that is decorated with traditional fetish designs. The bowl is considered sacred by the Zuni during the ceremony, but afterward it is no longer regarded as a consecrated item and may be displayed; other bowls, including our piece, are created for commercial purposes and sold as artwork.
Quanita Kalestewa comes from an artistic family; her mother, Nellie Bica, was perhaps the most recognized potter at Zuni. Quanita and her husband Jack enjoy working together and have been collaborating for many years. They began their artistic careers by creating jewelry and now follow the family tradition of pottery-making. To make their works, they use the pink-tinted clay found near Zuni Pueblo for their work, adding pottery shards to the clay as temper to achieve a higher quality and stronger piece. Once the clay formation is shaped, the Kalestewas fire their pottery outdoors in dung fires rather than using modern kilns. While being interviewed for the book Dialogues with Zuni Potters, Quanita explained her preference, “A good reason to fire outdoors is because the paint stays on, everlasting. Kiln firing, they find out that it produces pots that are brittle.”
This fetish bowl was donated to the Park by our founders, Richard and Jean Wilson.
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http://www.scribd.com/doc/2404051/197006DesertMagazine1970June?page=25