Native Arts & Cultures.
This group is open to all Native artists, all natives full or
mixed blood, inter-tribal or non tribal affiliation,
professional, amatuer or hobbyist. Also open to those
simply interested in native arts & cultures. Peace.
Members: 58
Code of Conduct Visibility: open Membership: open Group Email: NativeArtsCulture@groups.care2.com
The feather fan is an integral part of daily and ceremonial life for many Native peoples. It is used in dance, for blessing, prayer, ceremony and for fanning. Patrick Scott (Dine) has been making feather fans since 1981, and has created fans for tribal people around North America and Mexico. His work is in collections as far away as Europe and in institutions such as the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa and the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. Yet many of his fans still go to Native people, who use them in traditional ways. For his part, the 39-year-old artist often attends powwows and is an active member of the Native American Church.
Making a fan involves finding the perfect combination of feathers, washing them with traditional herbs, then steaming and flattening them.
Feather fans and beaded handles by Patrick Scott (Dine). Photos by HW Brelsford.
Most of Scotts feathers come from moltings of live birds such as macaws, cockatoos,exotic turkeys and pheasants feathers that are legal to buy and sell. If someone wants a fan containing eagle or other raptor feathers that cannot be sold, the client must provide the feathers. Paint is not used; the fans carefully combined color choices come from beadwork, threadwork and featherwork using small dyed goose feathers, as well as the primary fan feathers.
Along with his brother, from whom he learned the craft, Scott developed the gourd stitch for beading, and uses high-quality, small beads. His one-of-a-kind designs often reflect the purchasers life situation and planned use for the fan, he says. Other acclaimed fan-makers selling their work today include Mitchell Boyiddle (Kiowa) and Steve Darden (Dine Cheyenne).
Making a fan involves finding the perfect combination of feathers, washing them with traditional herbs, then steaming and flattening them. 
New Journeys in Collaboration Tribal Museum Partnership Summit
