{"title":"Todd Westika","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0888\/5204\/files\/Todd_Westila_PeterK_Shopify_480x480.jpg?v=1558989316\" alt=\"\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTodd learned the art of fetish carving mostly on his own. A relative made a small bear for him to use as a “guide,” and then he “took it from there.” His knowledge of rocks came from some geology classes he took as a geological engineering student. Todd won first place at the 1994 American Indian and Western Relic Show in Pasadena, California. He has won many awards at the Zuni Show of the Museum of Northern Arizona. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Since a fetish is believed to have a spirit, as though it were alive, I want people to get a sense of security and happiness from my carvings. Whenever I’m about to work, I put any worries aside and try to have only good thoughts so that those would be passed on to anyone who comes in contact with the fetishes. I’ve always enjoyed collecting unusual rocks. Now in addition to collecting them, I give them new life. Earlier influences and an imagination play a big role in transforming ordinary rocks into the different fetishes.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTodd says that the question he is most often asked is “How long does it normally take you to carve a fetish?” Observing the care he takes in forming and finishing each piece, an appropriate answer to this question might be, “It takes as long as is required for the carving to be truly ‘finished’ by his standards.”\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"mookaite-jasper-eagle-fetish-necklace","title":"Mookaite Jasper Eagle Necklace","description":"\u003cp\u003eFound only in Western Australia, mookaite jasper is from a deposit on private land at Mooka Creek. Said to energize with life-force vigor, this gorgeous natural material is made up of different minerals and fossilized substances, most notably tiny aquatic plankton called radiolaria. Leave it to noted Zuni artist Todd Westika, who graduated from New Mexico Tech with a background in geo-engineering, to carve stunning mookaite jasper into this glorious \u003ca class=\"fancybox\" data-fancybox-type=\"iframe\" href=\"\/en-ca\/pages\/eagle\"\u003eEagle\u003c\/a\u003e (or \u003ca class=\"fancybox\" data-fancybox-type=\"iframe\" href=\"\/en-ca\/pages\/hawk\"\u003eHawk\u003c\/a\u003e) fetish necklace. His passion for rocks and minerals draws him to work with unusual stones. Each amazing raptor has eyes from sterling silver inlays. The center bird with spread wings is approximately 1 3\/8\" long and 1 5\/8\" wide, while the side raptors perch at roughly 1 1\/2\" to 1 3\/4\" long. Lovely sky blue turquoise, sterling silver and red coral beads accompany the birds on this collectible necklace that's about 30\" long. Signed by the artist.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Todd Westika","offers":[{"title":"Eagle \/ Mookaite Jasper","offer_id":41103398502485,"sku":"","price":900.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0888\/5204\/files\/TWestika-Mookaite-jasper-eagle-necklacev3.jpg?v=1771519202"},{"product_id":"mexican-onyx-bison","title":"Mexican Onyx Bison","description":"\u003cp\u003eTodd Westika is from the Quam and Quandelacy family of noted Zuni artists. As a youth, a love for rocks and minerals eventually drew him to become a geo engineer, graduating from New Mexico Tech. Later, a trip home to Zuni changed his life course as he decided to become a full-time carver instead. His late aunt Rhoda Quam taught him the fundamentals, while his grandmother said to \"always have good thoughts when you are working because that energy goes into the carving.” Todd's first piece was a hunched-back \u003ca href=\"\/en-ca\/pages\/bear\" data-fancybox-type=\"iframe\" class=\"fancybox\"\u003eBear\u003c\/a\u003e. His motor for grinding came from an old washing machine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSculpted from Mexican onyx said to hold properties that encourage positive thinking and emotional balance, Todd's good energy \u003ca href=\"\/en-ca\/pages\/bison\" data-fancybox-type=\"iframe\" class=\"fancybox\"\u003eBison\u003c\/a\u003e measures about 4 1\/4\" long, 1\" wide and roughly 2 1\/4\" tall. He enjoys carving with unusual and non-toxic stones. Mighty horns are from pen shell and discerning eyes are from sterling silver inlays. An elegantly carved turquoise point is joined by silver and coral beads in the offering bundle.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Todd Westika","offers":[{"title":"Bison \/ Mexican Onyx","offer_id":41500476604501,"sku":null,"price":250.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0888\/5204\/files\/TWestika-onyx-bison3v4_e643783b-0261-4220-b666-541f3f383fa1.jpg?v=1763053370"},{"product_id":"twestika-white-dolomite-wolf-jpg","title":"\"Hunter's Wolf\"","description":"\u003ca href=\"\/en-ca\/pages\/wolf\" data-fancybox-type=\"iframe\" class=\"fancybox\"\u003eWolves\u003c\/a\u003e are associated with strong hunter powers by the A:Shiwi (The People). Todd Westika's \"Hunter's Wolf\" is carved from white dolomite polished to a lovely finish. Discerning eyes are from sterling silver inlays. An exquisite offering bundle is from a carved turquoise point with sterling silver and red coral beads. Todd's parents are jewelers and carvers Nancy and Sheldon Westika. They descend from the greater Quandelacy family of Zuni artists. About 4 3\/4\" long, 1 1\/8\" wide and 1 3\/4\" tall.","brand":"Todd Westika","offers":[{"title":"Wolf \/ White Dolomite","offer_id":41733998575701,"sku":null,"price":170.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0888\/5204\/files\/TWestika-white-dolomite-wolfv4.jpg?v=1759442368"},{"product_id":"timeless-corn-maiden-1","title":"Timeless Corn Maiden","description":"A \u003ca href=\"\/en-ca\/pages\/corn-maiden\" data-fancybox-type=\"iframe\" class=\"fancybox\"\u003eCorn Maiden\u003c\/a\u003e carved from an orthoceras marble stands timeless. The gorgeous stone encases ancient fossils complimented by sgraffito-etched star and \u003ca href=\"\/en-ca\/pages\/dragonfly\" data-fancybox-type=\"iframe\" class=\"fancybox\"\u003eDragonfly\u003c\/a\u003e elements. The sterling silver-eyed Corn Maiden wears a necklace from small turquoise stones elegantly inlaid above an incised \u003ca href=\"\/en-ca\/pages\/corn\" data-fancybox-type=\"iframe\" class=\"fancybox\"\u003ecorn\u003c\/a\u003e body. About 4 5\/8\" tall, 1 3\/4\" wide and 1\/2\" deep, by Todd Westika who has been carving since 1990.","brand":"Todd Westika","offers":[{"title":"Corn Maiden \/ Orthoceras","offer_id":42441188802645,"sku":null,"price":150.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0888\/5204\/files\/TWestika-orthoceras-corn-maiden3.jpg?v=1777474812"}],"url":"https:\/\/keshi.com\/en-ca\/collections\/todd-westika\/material-orthoceras.oembed","provider":"Keshi The Zuni Connection","version":"1.0","type":"link"}