Art, Film, Fashion & Culture at Native POP: People of the Plains

Published July 24, 2019

RAPID CITY, S.D. — The Native POP: People of the Plains art market and cultural celebration is a two day event that started with an awards reception on Friday July 19 at the Dahl Arts Center. The Native POP organizing committee appointed a select panel of experts to recognize achievement in four major categories: Two Dimensional, Three Dimensional, Adornment, and Emerging. In addition, there are prizes for Innovation, People’s Choice and a Special Publicity award with $17,000 in total award money. Juried artists submitted their original art for judging on Friday, July 20^th  by noon.

This year Rhonda Holy Bear won Best of Show for a stunning beaded small sculpture titled  “Lakota Honor: Sees The Horses Woman.”  Holy Bear is known for her hyper-realistic figures, attention to detail, and historical accuracy. Charles Her Many Horses won the Publicity Award for his painting “​Woman in Starquilt and Robe.”  This piece will appear in all the advertising for the show in 2020.

Peter Strong, chair of Native POP’s organizing committee, commented on the artists and the event, “Native POP has become an increasingly important venue for Native arts and creativity in the Great Plains. Hosted in the Black Hills of South Dakota, it is an amazing way for Indigenous artists to share their diverse art forms and expression and to build understanding and goodwill among people of all backgrounds. Each year the artists always bring their best and the line up for film, fashion and music performance was incredible as usual.”

The second day of Native POP began on Saturday, July 20 with a prayer and Native veteran color guard bring in and honor the US and tribal nation flags at Main Street Square. This annual art market creates opportunities for people to buy directly from the artists. The cultural celebration included a full schedule with cultural bearers sharing knowledge and doing demonstrations, a fashion show featuring local Native clothing designers and a Native film showcase.  Native POP closed its seventh year with a free evening concert with Scotti Clifford & Spirits Cry and Sons of Sans Arc. If you missed this year’s festivities, you’ll have to make plans to come next summer. The Native POP art market and cultural celebration continues to grow and there is no other event that brings together this expansive diversity of Native cultural and creative expression.

Here is a list of the 2019 award winners:

2019 AWARD WINNERS

Best of Show & Native American Art Magazine Editor’s Choice: 
Lakota Honor: Sees The Horses Woman, ​Rhonda Holy Bear

Best of Division I, Adornment: ​MMIW Intertwining with Ashlynn Mike Amber 
Alert​, Susan Hudson

Best of Division II, Two Dimensional: ​Unbroken Spirits​, Carlin Bear Don’t Walk

Best of Division III, Three Dimensional:​ ​Lakota Honor​, Rhonda Holy Bear

Best of Emerging: ​Sunset Series Necklace,​ Madison Burnette

Innovation Award: ​Melt: ​Prayers for the people and the planet​, Angela Babby

Publicity Award:​ ​Woman in Starquilt and Robe​, Charles Her Many Horses

Special Award – Division I, Adornment 
Black Hills Florals​, Terra Houska
Summertime and Livin is Easy​, Molina Parker
Tribute to the Twins,​ Emilie Bald Eagle/Ravenshead
Tatanka Oyate Bolo​, Nelda Schrupp
MMIW Ledger Skirt,​ Lynette Morin
Special Award – Division II, Two Dimensional 
Winyan Blowing Bubbles​, Charles Her Many Horses
Worth the Memories,​ Mikayla Patton
Ready,​ Jennifer White
People of the Plains: Unci​, Keith BraveHeart
Protection​, Wade Patton

Special Award – Division III, Three Dimensional 
Akicita,​ Rhonda Holy Bear
Tatanka​, Gene Swallow
Half Breed,​ Bill Mendoza
Geechee Mon​, Marty Two Bulls Jr.
Lakota Horse Mask​, ​Caroline Bald Eagle /Ravenshead

Special Award – Emerging 
The Union of Joy​, Tani Gordon
Stronghold Table Coyote,​ Dustin Twiss
A Message to Mato Paha​, Dustin Twiss

People’s Choice Award – Carlin Bear Don’t Walk