Indian Country Today Article Highlights Marsha MacDowell's Research

An article in Indian Country Today written by Tish Leizens features research from Michigan Traditional Arts Program Director Marsha MacDowell. The article, entitled, "4 Way Pow Wow Regalia Has Changed Over the Years," discusses shifts in regalia materials an styles.

MacDowell, also Curator of Folk Arts at the MSU Museum, has published extensively on this topic and helped to compile The Great Lakes Indian Dance Regalia Project Collection.

Here is a selection from the Indian Country Today article:

"3. Let it shine
Traditional elements of bead and floral designs continue to be done by master beading makers and regalias are still passed on to the new generation, but Marsha MacDowell, professor and museum curator at the Michigan State University, said she has seen new materials and different techniques used in embellishing the clothing.

Fancy Dance Regalia drawing by Kathryn Darnell, in the book Contemporary Great Lakes Pow Wow Regalia, co-edited by Marsha MacDowell, 1997. (Photo courtesy of MacDowell)

 MacDowell, who co-edited a book on Contemporary Great Lakes Pow Wow Regalia: Nda Maamawigaami (Together We Dance), 1997, cited painting on the fabric and the use of materials to make the regalia shine or show off a metallic effect. "

Read more at http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2014/07/12/4-ways-pow-wow-regalia-has-changed-throughout-years-155805?page=0%2C0