The Art of Quillwork

Indigenous peoples of the Americas have long decorated clothing and objects with porcupine quills to show care, respect, and love. On March 14, celebrate the power of Indigenous art and design at our DC location.

Hear from the artists behind the porcupine quillwork that adorns two Gucci dresses on view in the special installation, Making a Statement. Join artists Joe Big Mountain (Mohawk, Cree, Comanche), Sunshine Big Mountain (Oneida of Wisconsin), and Anthony Hernandez (Northern Paiute) as they share their stories and demonstrate quillwork techniques. Curator Anya Monteil (Tohono O’odham) will be on hand for a tour of the special installation Making a Statement, which features work by Joe Big Mountain.  

Young visitors and their families can stop by the imagiNATIONS Activity Center to learn how deer hide becomes clothing and accessories. Then, design your own rawhide artwork with colorful floral patterns inspired by objects in the National Museum of the American Indian collection.