Frank Waln, award-winning Sicangu Lakota Hip Hop artist, producer, and performer from the Rosebud Reservation performed the closing show for the Third Annual Gathering of People, Wind and Water in Rapid City, South Dakota.
$17,000 in prize money awarded to Great Plains Native Artists
By Native Sun News RAPID CITY –– The Third Annual Gathering of People, Wind and Water, a Native art market and cultural celebration drew more than 4,000 visitors to the heart of downtown Rapid City. The festival showcased the work of more than 50 contemporary and traditional visual and performing Great Plains Native artists at Main Street Square in downtown Rapid City on Sat., July 18. Emerging artist Brenna Ravenshead, 18, of Custer, walked away with the $2,500 Best of Show award for her artwork, Beaded Fawn Head Bag, at the third annual Gathering of People, Wind and Water art competition. “We haven’t been this excited about a young artist in a long time,” said Dan Tribby, of Prairie Edge Trading Company and Galleries, which carries Ravenshead’s work and was one of the show’s major sponsors. “Brenna has exceptionally unique designs and makes everything in the traditional ways we just don’t see anymore — brain-tanned hides, real sinew and antique beads. It’s rare to see such accomplished design skills and craftsmanship in an artist of any age."
Emerging artist Brenna Ravenshead, 18, of Custer, walked away with the $2,500 Best of Show award for her artwork, Beaded Fawn Head Bag, at the third annual Gathering of People, Wind and Water in Rapid City, South Dakota.
The Gathering’s highly coveted People’s Choice award went to Beverly (Bear King) Moran, a traditional beader based in Albuquerque, N.M. Nearly 700 visitors voted in the competition during the market on Saturday. Except for People’s Choice, the show’s $17,000 award winners were selected by a panel of judges that included Black Hills State University professor Jace DeCory; Michael Pangburn, South Dakota Arts Council; Masayuki Nagase, The Sculpture Project; and Jeffrey Viken, Chief United States District Judge. Awards were announced at a reception at the Journey Museum and Learning Center on Friday, July 17. Awards winners were:
• Best of Show: Brenna Ravenshead
• Best of Division I – Adornment: Beverly (Bear King) Moran
• Best of Division II - Two Dimensional: Angela Babby
• Best of Division III - Three Dimensional: Emil Her Many Horses
• Best of Emerging: Tani Gordon
• Innovation Award: Gordon Coons
• Publicity Award: Roger Broer
• Special Awards Division I – Adornment: Troy Brave Heart, Emil Her Many Horses, Marie Martin, Brenna Ravenshead, Paul Szabo
• Special Awards Division II - Two Dimensional: Keith BraveHeart, Gordon Coons, Evans Flammond, Sr., Linda Szabo, Jim Yellowhawk
• Special Awards Division III - Three Dimensional: Randall Blaze, Marty Cuny, Larry J. DesJarlais, Jr., Donald F. Montileaux, Nelda Schrupp
• Special Award Emerging Artist: Hillary Kempenich, Wade Patton, Jennifer White
• People’s Choice Award: Beverly (Bear King) Moran
Brenna Ravenshead won Best of Show with her Beaded Fawn Head Bag at the third annual Gathering of People, Wind and Water in Rapid City, South Dakota.
The market included demonstrations by tribal members of regalia making, storytelling, flute making, and performances of all types. The Gathering was inspired by The Sculpture Project: Passage of Wind and Water and artist Masayuki Nagase's themes of balance and transformation. Performances included an opening drum ceremony by Wambli Ska Drum & Dance Society and Veteran's Honoring with Dino Holy Eagle followed by Dallas Chief Eagle and a Children's Dance Workshop. Hitting the stage at noon was Finger style Blues Guitarist Cary Mori followed by Gyasi Ross with Emerging Spoken Word artists Shawn Little Thunder and Mike "Witko" Clifford and the AlterNative/rock group The Cody Blackbird Band. The highlight of the festival were performances by AlterNative Rock artists Scatter Their Own and Hip Hop sensation Frank Waln. Copyright permission Native Sun News
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