Back Forward: The Trail of Tears Art Show celebrates 50 years

Oklahoma is known for the cultural contributions of the Native American nations within the state, but the story of how many of them arrived comes from a hurtful and devastating past.

The Indian Removal Act of 1830 was the beginning of a tragic era for many Native Americans. Many Nations, such as the Choctaws, Chickasaws, Muscogee Creeks, Seminoles, and Cherokees were removed from their land to Indian Territory in present-day Oklahoma. The most forceful of these removals came with the signing of the Treaty of New Echota in 1835. This led to those of the Cherokee Nation to be forcefully removed from their land and evicted without warning.

Kenny Henson's painting "Medicine Bear Robe" was give the Betty Scraper-Garner Elder Award at this year's Trail of Tears Art Show. Photo courtesy Cherokee Nation

More than 16,000 Cherokee were removed from their homelands in Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina, and Georgia. This move resulted in the deaths of more than a thousand young, old, and infirm Cherokee perishing and an unknown number of thousands who lost their lives to the consequences of forced migration. This tragedy is called The Trail of Tears.

Today, the Cherokee nation has lived on with endurance and resilience as they continue celebrating their culture. With the mass movement ending in 1829, the Cherokee experienced hardship adjusting to the new and foreign lands. However, descendants remember and honor those who struggled before, while continuing traditions to the present day.

One of the ways this dark chapter in our history is remembered is through art. The Trail of Tears Art Show showcases an annual exhibition of artwork that includes basketry, pottery, graphics, sculpture, and miniatures with the annual Trail of Tears theme. The first show was held on the grounds of the now Cherokee Heritage Center almost fifty years ago and is now the longest-running, juried, Native American art show in Oklahoma.

Jerry Sutton's mixed media artwork “Cultural Appropriation” won the 2020 Trail of Tears Art Show Grand Prize. He's this year's featured artist. Photo courtesy Cherokee Nation

Each year, there is a featured artist and winners of the Grand Prize and Trail of Tears Award. Prize money ranges from $1,200 to $1,700, with each winner also receiving a prize gorget. Those who receive the prize are determined by three judges who are selected for their knowledge of art and art history. This year's featured artist is Jerry Sutton of the Cherokee Nation who won last year's Grand Prize with his piece “Cultural Appropriation,” which is a multimedia artwork depicting Michelangelo’s David dressed as a pre-contact Cherokee hunter. The image represents the appropriation done by European and colonial culture. Each artist displays a look into a past of struggle and hardship while celebrating their resilience. The very best Native American art is shown through political commentary, historical relevance, and memorializing those who came before.

Vivian Garner Cottrell won the Grand Prize for the fiftieth annual Trail of Tears Art Show for her piece “We Are Still Here.” Ernie Lee Poindexter is the Trail of Tears Award Winner for “Removal Gathering.” The show runs through July 31 at the Cherokee Heritage Center in Tahlequah. Admission, $10-$12. (918) 456-7311 or visitcherokeenation.com/trail-of-tears-art-show

Written By

Olivia McCourry