Dawn Spears

Her Empowerment—Our Legacy was collaboratively designed by three Native American artists. The garment was made at the 2017 SEEDS Marketplace, a Native American art market established and led by women in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Loren Aragon (Acoma Pueblo) constructed the gown and then gave creative control to J. Nicole Hatfield (Comanche and Kiowa), who painted the bodice, and Dawn Spears (Narragansett and Choctaw), who designed the skirt. The dress pays homage to Native American women and matriarchs in the arts. Aragon hails from New Mexico, Hatfield from Oklahoma, and Spears from Rhode Island. 

–Sháńdíín Brown, Henry Luce Curatorial Fellow for Native American Art