Troy Sice and Ray Tsalate, both from Zuni Pueblo in New Mexico, are master carvers. Both of them have accumulated numerous awards at prestigious Native American art shows and museum shows.
Troy's most recent accomplishments include an Honorable Mention, Contemporary Art at the Museum of Northern Arizona, Zuni Show in 2010 and an Honorable Mention, Contemporary Art at the Santa Fe Indian Market(SWAIA), 2010. In an article about his carvings appeared in the 2008 March/April issue of Native Peoples Magazine titled "Native Nacimientos: Cross-Cultural Christmas".
Ray began as an apprentice for Troy Sice in 2004. His most recent accomplishments include 1st Place Contemporary Art and 2nd Place Contemporary Art at the Museum of Northern Arizona, Zuni Show, 2011, and,
2nd Place Contemporary Art at the Santa Fe Indian Market (SWAIA), 2010. Ray also received the Wolfus Fellowship Recipient from the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian in Santa Fe in 2010.
Troy has broken the mold and set a new standard for both fetish carvers and sculptors alike.
His works are timeless pieces, which include the sitting and standing bears, frogs, badgers, and corn maidens.
Recently he has added unique singing and dancing bears and his own take on the famous nativity story. Troy's version consists of six figures carved and inlaid with stone (Mary, Joseph, three wise men, and baby Jesus) and can even include additional figures such as angles, camels, donkeys, cows, sheep, and coyotes. He is also known for other intricately detailed sculptures taken from the Zuni Culture and stories such as the Water Serpent K'olo'wisi, as well as the Knifewing, Eagle Dancer, Buffalo Dancer, and the Hopi Warrior Woman. Troy's works are on view in several different museums and can be found at Gathering Tribes in Albany, California.
With the encouragement of his mentor, Ray took a hands-on approach, learning step-by-step how to carve large and small pieces from elk antler and various stones. With the encouragement of his mentor, Ray took a hands-on approach, learning step-by-step how to carve large and small pieces from elk antler and various stones.
Over his still-young career, Ray has challenged himself with increasingly difficult projects as he creates his own style and keeps each individual art piece unique. Many of his art pieces are depictions of regal maidens dressed in their very best waiting to dance. He also carves figures such as dragonfly maidens and butterfly maidens. Inspired by his love of nature, he carves colorful creatures such as chubby frogs eating dragonflies or dragonflies hovering over giant flowers.