In Albuquerque, Big Day Takes Prize for Beaded Doll

On April 10th, the Indian Arts and Crafts Association announced the winners of its 2008 Artist of the Year Competition during its annual Spring Wholesale Market held in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

This year’s top award, “Artist of the Year” went to Mary Lou Big Day, a beadworker and doll maker from the Crow Nation in Montana for her “Crow Traveling Medicine Beaded Doll with Cradleboard.”

Mary Lou Big Day has been making dolls since she was a little girl.

This beautifully beaded doll sits on a red birch pole which represents the teepee poles. This miniature scene depicts the moving of the family camp. The dolls were used to teach young people about what needs to be done when moving, from picking and packing medicines to storing dry meat and berries in the saddlebags. The doll itself was considered “medicine” and would help when the camp was moved.

In addition to the cradleboard, the doll carries her husband’s lance case made for a captured army sword, his warbonnet case and coup stick. The doll’s face is painted with earth paints in the Big Day family design. “The colors and designs used for this doll are all traditional Crow designs, very geometric with lots of sky blue beads and what are now called Cheyenne pink beads. Through my dolls,” says Mary Lou, “I hope to preserve our past heritage for my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.” 

Download a PDF listing the winners alongside photos of their work.

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