Judging Clowns, Omaha pow-wow. Macy, Nebraska, 1983

Included in the photograph is Willard "Deanie" Phillips. From Dorothy Sara Lee's fieldnotes: "The clowns did not seem terribly ferocious, but their covered faces and mildly outrageous actions seemed to frighten some of the younger children. The clown dancers were apparently not intended to be taken seriously, and there was a bit of clowning between one of the dancers and one of the arena directors. Clown costumes were take-offs on pow-wow regalia: headpieces made of an old rug or mop; rag tails. All clown dancers wore cloths over their heads to disguise their identities. Some appeared to be serious dancers--one danced with hula hoops but finished with the drum. Others parodied the movements of fancy dancers. Supposedly, the clown contest was judged by the audience; the arena directors held a flag over the heads of each contestant and listened [sic] the corresponding applause" (p. 13). 1983 Omaha pow-wow. Macy, Nebraska.

clown contest ethnography macy clowns omaha powwow project collection omaha indian music american folklife center carl fleischhauer willard deanie phillips ultra high resolution high resolution flag library of congress

01/01/1983

Library of Congress

http://www.loc.gov/

Public Domain