Eva McAdams
{{Short description|Shoshone regalia maker}}
{{Infobox person
| birth_name = Eva B. St. Clair Washakie
| birth_date = June 18, 1927
| birth_place = Fort Washakie, Wyoming
| death_date = January 29, 2010
| death_place = Fort Washakie, Wyoming
| citizenship = Eastern Shoshone
| occupation = Needleworker and beading artist
| known_for = Shoshone regalia maker
| spouse = Alfred "Dutch" McAdams, married 1945
| children = 8
| parents = Lynn and Eloise Sonnicant St. Clair
| family = Washakie
| awards = National Heritage Fellowship
}}
Eva B. St. Clair Washakie McAdams (June 18, 1927 – January 29, 2010) was a Shoshone regalia maker and beadwork artist. Born on Wyoming's Wind River Reservation, McAdams was named a Fellow by the National Endowment for the Arts in 1996.
Biography
= Early life =
Eva B. St. Clair Washakie was born in Fort Washakie, on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming on June 18, 1927.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-12-11 |title=Eva McAdams |url=https://indigenousamericacalendar.org/2022/12/11/january-29-2010/ |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=Indigenous America Calendar |language=en}} She was the second oldest of eight children, and a great-granddaughter of Chief Washakie, a Shoshone leader.{{Cite web |title=Eva McAdams |url=https://www.arts.gov/honors/heritage/eva-mcadams |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=www.arts.gov |language=en}}{{Cite book |last1=Congdon |first1=Kristin G. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AxfOEAAAQBAJ&dq=Eva%20McAdams,%20wyoming&pg=PA616 |title=American Folk Art: A Regional Reference [2 volumes] |last2=Hallmark |first2=Kara Kelley |date=2012-03-19 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing USA |isbn=978-0-313-34937-9 |pages=615–617 |language=en}} As a child, she learned the tradition of Shoshone needlework and beading on buckskin from her mother, grandmother Mary Washakie and aunt. Buckskin sewing was historically regarded as a survival skill amongst the Shoshone, and today has grown into a ceremonial role.{{Cite book |last=Govenar |first=Alan B. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rotYAAAAYAAJ&q=Eva%20McAdams,%20wyoming |title=Masters of Traditional Arts: A Biographical Dictionary |date=2001 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1-57607-240-0 |pages=404–405 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Dubin |first=Lois Sherr |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CPUMAQAAMAAJ&q=Eva%20McAdams,%20wyoming |title=North American Indian Jewelry and Adornment: From Prehistory to the Present |date=May 1999 |publisher=Harry N. Abrams |isbn=978-0-8109-3689-8 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Smith |first=Monte |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NqEIAQAAMAAJ&q=%22Eva%20McAdams%22%20art |title=The Technique of North American Indian Beadwork |date=1983 |publisher=Eagle's View Publishing Company |isbn=978-0-943604-01-5 |language=en}}
= Beading and needlework =
File:Shoshone moccasins, 1860-1880 - Bata Shoe Museum - DSC00549.JPG
In 1945, Eva married her husband Alfred "Dutch" McAdams. The couple operated a ranch in Wind River, and Eva practiced her needlework in her free time. To support her family, McAdams worked several jobs, such as operating a native crafts store and for the Bureau of Indian Affairs while raising eight children. McAdam's reputation began to grow for her traditional designs on buckskin, used for Shoshone ceremony.{{Cite web |title=Eva McAdams – Masters of Traditional Arts |url=http://www.mastersoftraditionalarts.org/artists/207?selected_facets=state_exact:Wyoming |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=www.mastersoftraditionalarts.org}} McAdams became particularly known for her Shoshone Rose and floral motifs, which she claimed were inspired by advertisements.{{Cite book |last=Penney |first=David W. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ybQqAAAAYAAJ&q=Eva%20McAdams,%20wyoming |title=Native American Art Masterpieces |date=1996 |publisher=Hugh Lauter Levin Associates, Incorporated |isbn=978-0-88363-496-7 |pages=50 |language=en}}
McAdams said, "Sacajawea and the Shoshones considered the rose the world's most beautiful flower. That's why they selected it for beading. It represents goodness and love".{{Cite book |last=Haney |first=Rich |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VPVJDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22Eva%20McAdams%22%20art&pg=PA51 |title=Sacajawea: Her True Story |date=2000-04-04 |publisher=Xlibris Corporation |isbn=978-1-4691-1264-0 |pages=51 |language=en}}
= Recognition and legacy =
In 1990, she received the Wyoming Governor's Art Award, and was the first Native artist to be honored with the award. In 1996, she was awarded a National Heritage Fellowship by the National Endowment for the Arts.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1P8IAQAAMAAJ&q=Eva%20McAdams,%20wyoming |title=Indian Artist |date=1997 |publisher=Nightingale Hice, Incorporated |pages=16 |language=en}} McAdams taught her traditional needlework to her children and grandchildren.
McAdams died in Fort Washakie on January 29, 2010. Today, her granddaughter Joanne Brings Thunder continues her grandmother's needlework and beading traditions.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-12-30 |title=Artist Spotlight: Telling our Women's Stories |url=https://www.oncaravan.org/post/artist-spotlight-joannebringsthunder |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=CARAVAN |language=en}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2019-07-01 |title=Schedule of Events for July 10 Capitol Square Open House and Celebration |url=https://www.wyomingcapitolsquare.com/open-house/2019/6/10/schedule-of-events-for-july-10-capitol-square-open-house-and-celebration |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=Wyoming Capitol Square Project |language=en-US}}
{{Portal|Wyoming|Visual arts
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.arts.gov/honors/heritage/eva-mcadams Eva McAdams] at the National Endowment for the Arts
- [https://sil.si.edu/DigitalCollections/art-design/artandartistfiles/vf_details.cfm?id=90397 Eva McAdams] at Smithsonian Libraries
- Main Street, Wyoming; Eva McAdams, Digital Public Libraries of America
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Category:Native American artists
Category:20th-century Native American women
Category:20th-century Native American artists
Category:Eastern Shoshone people