Four American Indian traditional artists will be demonstrating their work on Saturday, Sept. 23, at the Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre.
The free event, hosted by the Museum of the South Dakota State Historical Society, runs from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. CDT. Refreshments will be served, and there is free admission to the museum galleries on that day.
Alana Traversie of Pierre will demonstrate beading. Traversie learned to bead earrings and create simple loom patterns at a young age. As she grew older her love for beading grew and she taught herself how to bead a variety of objects. Traversie’s specialty is beaded moccasins, and she takes great pride in every pair she makes.
Mike Marshall is a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and makes his home there, on the reservation. After graduating from Sinte Gleska University’s art program with a bachelor of fine arts degree, Marshall has spent his time continuing to develop his artistic style. Marshall has extensive knowledge of traditional Lakota games and toys and will be making game pieces and playing traditional games with museum visitors. Visitors will be able to make games for themselves with supplies provided. In his personal artwork, Marshall does a mixture of traditional Lakota art and also explores mediums of paint, stone and metalwork. Marshall is known for his ledger art, batiks and par fleche boxes.
Two artists will be demonstrating traditional star quilting – Jennifer Carter from Fort Pierre and Denise Lightningfire from Lantry. The single star that dominates most star quilts is made of small diamond-shaped fabric patches pieced together into eight sections. The eight-sided star is formed when these sections are joined together. Today, star quilts are a valued gift, often made for "give-away" events such as memorial feasts, celebrations, naming ceremonies and marriages.
“This is a great day at the museum,” said museum director Jay Smith. “It is always a pleasure to host the traditional arts demonstrators, and they interact so well with our visitors. Our visitors really enjoy seeing the artists at work.”
For more information about programs, events and exhibits at the Cultural Heritage Center, please call 605-773-3458 or visit history.sd.gov.
About the South Dakota State Historical Society
The South Dakota State Historical Society is a division of the Department of Education. The State Historical Society, an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, is headquartered at the South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre. The center houses the society’s world-class museum, the archives, and the historic preservation, publishing and administrative/development offices. Call (605) 773-3458 or visit www.history.sd.gov for more information. The society also has an archaeology office in Rapid City; call (605) 394-1936 for more information.
