WhoMe

I recently gave a set of tail feathers to someone who does extremely fine feather fanwork.

He asked me how big do I want the fan? Through hand motions he indicated a foot and a half? Two feet? Three feet? then he laughed.

I laughed too. . . until I thought about how fans are getting bigger and longer! Then I quit laughing.

I said, "Make it a good one. Use your own judgement."

Which brings the question,

How big is toooooo big?

What is the biggest fan you have seen to date?

Is fan length and size going to steadily increase from today's standards?

Anyone?

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"Today, recognizing and respecting the origins of powwow aids in our Cultural Survival. If enough people break the rules because they are not satisfied...."We will have no culture."

WhoMe

chazziff

some are getting out of hand ... i remember seeing a woman dancer - teen category maybe - and her hand was near her waist (jingle dress dancer) and you could barely see her eyes above the tips of her fan!! now thats a lil bit too big for my tastes ... LOL

and you do see some struggle to keep them under control on windy days during competition LOL

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spottedeagle

I personally like to keep my fans in the 20" - 24" range (excluding fringe). That gives you a short extension for featherwork and threadwork, a comfotable sized handle. I generally make my handles about 4 1/2" long. Now don't get me wrong I'll make whatever you want. But I based what I generally make from what is comfortable for me.

Now a little food for thought a 24" fan being used by a lady who is 5', 100 lbs is going to look large compared to a 24" fan being used by a guy who is 6'5", 300 lbs.

Goood topic WhoMe!!!

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Dat1NdnGuy

It depends on the tail....Ive seen some where the feathers themselves were just huge. GIANT birds.

I personally like my fans on the bigger side. Mostly because I myself am BIG...

so I guess it depends on the dancer, sometimes I see a dancer who's about 6'8 and has a teeny teeny fan, and it just doesnt make any sense...LOL.

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Singing Otter

I like em big mostly because I'm a meaty woman and I feel kinda nekkid with a teenie one. (shut up lol) I'm not talking friggin HUGE but big enough that I can feel it in my hand. (omg it just keeps getting worse)

If it's big enough that you can play hide and seek behind it, that's too big.

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Redstone

Good topic here. Of course I hear the running joke of how fans are looking like giesha fans, huge. I honestly feel that fans should focus on the feathers, and not all the over-the-top decorations that are there today. I enjoy good threadwork, floral work, etc, but in moderation where it compliments the feathers, not overpowers it. Hopefully, what I am saying makes since. Of course I could add in the huge and overproportionate hairties that could be used as chest armor, and all the other huge things, but that is another topic itself. I just like things that a proportionate.

chazziff

yes proportion is very important when it comes to fans ... and any piece of regalia for that matter. pieces that are too small for one person maybe gigantic on another, but with alot of younger people thinking is "bigger is better" - maybe missing out on this.

just check out some of the pix in the gallery here ... or any intertribal. most of the teen categories is where all the huge pieces are LOL. teen boys traditional with three or two row bustles, two fans in each hand and a tail hanging from their dance sticks. often wondered how they are able to even to hang on to all their fans and dance sticks LOL

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Redstone

Got that right. All all those big beads, if they dropped it down to 13's, then maybe they could put that same design into perspective/proportion. ok, maybe I like ole school. The focus is on dancing, not being a showgirl/boy. Can't image what the ole timers would have thought, here ya come out dressed for battle, and you forgot your 2 sets of fans, rhinestones, and hairties which might beat ya to def flapping in the breeze. ok, I'll stop now.

Side_steppin_sweetie

I love my fans bif cause I am a big girl. Cant wait for my Mr. Jess creation. His work is right on poit. He will make it to suit you. But I like seeing nice, well done, detailed fan that compliments the dancers beadwork. It just makes it all look more pulled together.

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WhoMe

Hmmmm?

I was just thinkin...

Every now and then someone will bring into the powwow arena, something that was done or worn a long time ago.

Has anybody seen the full eagle fans?

These fans had the head and body (minus wings) of the eagle on the bottom then the beadworked handle in the middle and the tail on top! Several woodland and prairie tribes had them.

Anybody?

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"Today, recognizing and respecting the origins of powwow aids in our Cultural Survival. If enough people break the rules because they are not satisfied...."We will have no culture."

WhoMe

Str8Dancer49

I've seen those... they are super f-in keen.... especially when they have that abstract floral prairie style beadwork on tradecloth wrapped around the handle part....

And yeah, some fans are too freaking big.... and what up with little 3 year olds carrying a full black and white tail fan? I dig those old-school fans w/ a very narrow spread and no extensions.

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Functionless art is simply tolerated vandalism.

Singing Otter

hahahaha

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