The 22nd edition of this annual juried art exhibition is hosted by the Cherokee Heritage Center in Park Hill, Oklahoma, and open to members of the three Cherokee tribes: the Cherokee Nation, Eastern Band of Cherokee, and United Keetoowah Band. The Cherokee Heritage Center (CHC) is one of a select number of tribally-based museums, along with as the Museum of Warm Springs, and it’s interesting to consider how the focus changes when a tribal community hosts, juries, and judges the art show to create a true insider’s perspective of how the community represents itself and where its value lie.
The awards ceremony is always dramatic with each artist individually called out. The newly appointed executive director Dr. Charles Gourd introduced the preceding and shared that the museum has already had 38,000 visitors from 59 countries in this year to date. Susan Plumb, a CHC board member, emceed, while outgoing Miss Cherokee Sky Wildcat and incoming Miss Junior Miss Cherokee Danya Pigeon presented the awards. The jurors accepted 115 artworks by 68 artists. Matthew Anderson, Cherokee Nation cultural specialist, Spider Gallery manager, and artist; Betty Frogg, Cherokee National Treasure and basket weaver; and Victoria Vazquez, Cherokee Nation councilperson and ceramic artist, judged the work.
Daniel HorseChief of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, won the Grand Award with his oil painting, Generations. An alumnus of the Institute of American Indian Arts, HorseChief credits his mother Mary Adair, who taught art at Sequoyah High School with much of his art education. HorseChief paints and is also known for his large-scale, bronze sculptures.
2017 Cherokee Homecoming Award Winners
Grand Award: Daniel HorseChief
Beadwork, first place: Carolyn Pallett
Beadwork, honorable mention: Darlene Flannery
Traditional arts, first place: Roger Cain
Traditional arts, honorable mention: Noel Grayson
Jewelry, first place: Toneh Chuleewah
Jewelry, honorable mention: Verna Bates, Toney Chuleewah, Kathryn Radcliffe
Pottery, contemporary, David Pruitt
Pottery, contemporary, honorable mention: Troy Jackson
Sculpture, first place: Troy Jackson
Sculpture, honorable mention: Harry Oosahwee, Roger Cain
Textiles, first place: Lisa Blackbird-Forest
Textiles, honorable mention: Tonia Hogner-Weavel
Baskets, contemporary, first place: Renee Hoover
Baskets, contemporary, honorable mention: Leta Jones, Regina Thompson
Visual arts, first place: Jerry Sutton
Visual arts, honorable mention: Jeff Ross Davis, Marcy Scott, Tana Washington
Emerging Artist, first place: Hillary Hume
Emerging Artist, second place: Barbara McDaniel
Emerging Artist, honorable mention: Michael Cathey
Judge’s Choice: Kelly Anquo, Karen Berry, Kenny Henson, Ron Mitchell, and Mark Wolf
Bill Rabbit Legacy Award: Tana Washington
Betty Scraper Garner Elder Award: Verna Bates.
The deadline for next year will be in early August, and artists from the three Cherokee tribes are all welcome to enter! For more information, visit cherokeeheritage.org/for-artists.
