Artwork copyright Debbie Finley. Photo courtesy of the artist, 1986.

Artwork copyright Debbie Finley. Photo courtesy of the artist, 1986.

Red Design Dancing Fan, 1984

Debbie Finley
American Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation (born 1947, died 2019)

Location: Washington State Arts Commission, Olympia

About the Artwork

Red Design Dancing Fan was hand-crafted by Colville artist Debbie Finley in Spokane, Washington. The buckskin backing was tanned and stretched by the artist and the beads were chosen to create a tight and even design. This artwork is part of Beyond Blue Mountains, a collection that was curated by late Tlingit (Native Alaskan) artist Jim Schoppert. It presents the work of Native American artists of diverse heritage, ideas, materials, and styles. The collection takes an in-depth look at the artists’ unique voices and interpretations of tradition.

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Washington State Arts Commission.

About the Artist

Native American artist Debbie Finley (1947-2019) created hand-crafted and beaded artworks in the Interior Salish tradition. She lived most of her life in the Colville area, in Northeastern Washington. In the 1970s, Finley was one of the original members of the Native American Theater Ensemble (NATE, based in New York City), who are regarded as starting contemporary Native American theater in the United States.