“Messenger of the Spirit”
by Patrick Scott, Navajo
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Description: Ceremonial fan of turkey tail feathers, goose feathers, beads, deer hide, and leather fringe.
About this Award: Awarded to recognize high quality in diverse media that do not fit into conventional categories.
Jurors’ Comments:
Mark Bahti: It's well done with both the beadwork and the thread and feather work. With this particular artist I would expect that level of work; but what sets this above his normal work is the painting, the dying that he did on the turkey feathers—it’s a very nice touch.
(About a piece that was considered but not chosen, Apache Fiddle) I regret that high quality was the criterion because I would have loved to have given something to the Apache fiddle, the dark colored one, because it's nice to see that traditional craft being kept alive. For fifty years it’s been—almost gone.
Martin Kim: I concur with Mark in his assessment of the fan being the award winner on the basis of the quality of its craftsmanship; but, I too am upset over not being able to acknowledge the Apache fiddle maker. I think that this is an important craft, that it’s a dying craft, and especially in the single string. I think there are only two cultures, the other one's Chinese, that have the single string fiddle. So it was exciting to see it being revived, but the lack of attention to detail did not warrant award recognition in this category.
[The 1-String Apache Fiddle later won a Judge's Choice Award and the 2-String Apache Fiddle later won the Ruth E. Gittings Acquisition Award.]
Susan Folwell: No comment