Gaylon Westika is the son of noted potters Anderson and Avelia Peynetsa.  Each piece is coil built and painted with classic Zuni imagery.  This piece is one of his duck figures. The piece is built as a jar and then the wings, tail, and beak are added. The designs below the wings are classic Zuni rainbirds with the rain fine-lines.  There are dragonflies on the neck and tail. There is an additional dragonfly on the top of the duck’s head.  Dragonflies are significant as prayer messengers. The figure is striking both in shape and design.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay.  Gaylon says of his art:

“I work hard to develop pottery that speaks both to me and others about the beauty that exists here in Zuni. With the completion of each piece, I believe the breath of my ancestors live on, reminding us of the Zuni culture, traditional design and lifestyle we strive to preserve.” Gaylon Westika