Featured Artist Spotlight: Leland Boone & Daphne Quam

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Leland Boone is a third generation carver who has been carving Zuni fetishes for over 20 years in Zuni pueblo. He shares a workshop with his wife and fellow artist Daphne Quam, where they often collaborate from morning to noon. Leland then works at the cultural center while Daphne has the studio all to herself.

Leland learned the art apprenticing under his mother, starting with polishing. Leland and Daphne are beloved for their beautiful work with bright colored stones and glass slag. The slag is made by the couple in the workshop. They purchase glass sculptures from hobby stores and break them down into pieces for several carvings.

These mediums are unique and catch the eye for their color and shine, bringing life to Leland's preference of traditional animals such as coyotes, wolves, bears, beavers, and mountain lions. Still, alligators, frogs, and the rare penguin have been known to find form in their mediums under Leland and Daphne's care and attention to detail.

Leland and Daphne work on fetishes together and solo, so be sure to check in on their work often. Every piece is a unique celebration of heritage and culture with a story all its own.

Leland Boone