Growing up in the shadow of a famous family artist has benefits and challenges. And when your grandfather is recognized as the premier artist of a certain style, you realize that, as an artist yourself, you will always be compared to the family patriarch.
So it was with Freddie Leekya, a very talented fetish carver from the Zuni pueblo who is the son of Leekya Deyuse, the unchallenged master of the art form. His parents carved fetishes, and it was natural for him to follow their lead. For many years, as a young man (he was born in 1965), he worked the craft and became a very good traditional fetish carver, experimenting with different ways to present his animal carvings.
Zuni artisans have carved traditional fetishes for centuries, which are an important part of their religion. While most carvings today are made for sale, they are still carved, blessed, and carried by most members of the tribe. They believe that properly blessed carvings have significant power and can aid the person who carries them in living their lives.
Freddie began to experiment with variations on carving. With the support of a patron, who was a schoolteacher in the pueblo, he began to make a transition from carving traditional fetishes to a more sculptural effort, carving larger pieces that depicted not only animals but also human forms, and sometimes with an emphasis on humor. Some are depictions of Kachinas.
We have just obtained a collection of eight pieces carved by Leekya, all crafted from "Zuni Rock," a natural rock material found in the area. The pieces are 4" -5" tall and inlaid with coral, turquoise, and other semi-precious stones. He is creating a unique place for himself among Zuni carvers.
