2024 Small Works Show artist Della Big Hair-Stump

Owner/Designer/Artist ~ Della BigHair-Stump, enrolled member of the Crow Tribe from Crow Agency, MT. Her Apsáalooke (Crow) name is Latter Day Achiever, she comes from the Whistling Water Clan & Child of the Big Lodge.

Della has been designing native fashion & accessories since 2016. Growing up Della would watch her mother, grandmothers & grandfathers sit around the table beading, sewing, doing feather work & designing/drawing out Crow designs. From these teachings she figured how to combined, both traditional & the modern world together to make wearable fashion.

Her gowns & attire have been featured in Teen Vogue, INSIDER, USA New News, Vocally, INDEPENDENT from the UK, BUST Magazine, Xposer Magazine, Native American Art Magazine & many local Montana newspaper articles.

Designs by Della has traveled to many Fashion Shows & Art Shows. Sharing her unique one of a kind creations – “When Culture Meets Fashion”, all over the US, Canada & Paris, France.

A Crow Girl’s Gems

My piece signifies certain valuable items we as Apsaalooké women need, want & consider diamonds.

The red 8 band wool signifies the main material used for our Apsaalooké Elk Tooth dresses. The bone carved elk teeth we use for our traditional dresses. The 5 teeth represent me, my 2 daughters & 2 granddaughters. The women of my family.

The pair of abalone shells with the hanging crystal, brass & chevron beads represents our traditional earrings worn daily.

The beaded girl represents not only Apsaalooke women but also the women/girls of the family. We come from a traditional family, we are dancers in the powwow circuit & active in our traditional ceremonies. I’m blessed to have my cultural ceremonies & still able to speak my first language.

The beads used to make my Apsaalooké girl image is made of tri cuts size nine with regular cut seed beads size 11. Cut beads give the beads some shine & pretty sparkle. Beadwork is a major part of our regalia & all aspects of our daily wear.

A portrait of small little pieces like diamonds that have a lot of meaning to an Apsaalooké women’s heart.

Artist Statement
Della Big Hair-Stump