The year 2020 has brought many changes to some of the biggest Native American art events around the country, including the 15th annual Cherokee Art Market. The show was to be held in October at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but has shifted to a virtual platform from December 7 to 21, just in time for the gift-giving season. The show will happen on the Cherokee Art Market website and collectors from all around the world can explore the artwork.
Renee Hoover (Cherokee), Autumn’s Browns, Cherokee double walled round reed basket with commercial round reed and dyes, 9 x 17"
“I feel that the upside [to moving to a virtual platform] is that we’ll get a greater audience,” says Deborah Fritts, coordinator of Cherokee Art Market. “People who have heard of the show but haven’t been able to attend in person or maybe [those] who haven’t heard of the market will be able to pull up our website and see the amazing artwork that we have from our juried artists. I’m hoping that it will be open to a new audience.”
Tyra Shackleford (Chickasaw), Not Forgotten, porcupine quills, warbla therma plastic, leather, satin, cotton, grommets, sewing thread, hook and eye, invisible zipper, fusible interfacing. Size 6.
Juried artists who have participated in the live event since 2017 were invited to exhibit in the virtual edition of Cherokee Art Market. Among those participating are Renee Hoover, Tyra Shackleford, Dallin Maybee, Kristin Gentry, Hollis Chitto, Chase Earles, Rykelle Kemp and more. This year’s featured artist is sculptor Troy Jackson, who is a past winner at the show.
All participants are able to display 10 works of art to collectors at a time, with up to three views of each piece so the full effect of three-dimensional artwork can be retained in an online format. When an item sells, the artist is able to upload a new piece to keep their inventory fresh. “There will be different ways that collectors can contact the artists,” says Fritts. “Collectors can contact them through a link to their website, by email or by a phone number. Everything goes straight through the artist and makes it accessible to them.”
Dallin Maybee (Northern Arapaho/Seneca), Elk Medicine Medallion, 13/0 cut glass beads, braintan smoked buckskin, bull elk ivories, brass bells, Swarovski and Chinese crystals, dentalium, brass beads, 7" diameter.
The virtual market will also include several interactive components, including demonstrations and artist talks. Diné painter Jerry Brown will host a painting demonstration; Crystal Hanna, of Cherokee Nation, will hold a demo on pottery; while Jemez artist Kathleen Wall will show how she makes her clay sculptures. Randy Kemp (Choctaw/Euchee/Muscogee Creek) will present a multidisciplinary video with storytelling, poetry and flute playing.
Kristin Gentry (Choctaw), Mali Chito (The Storm), watercolor and ink on paper, 24 x 36"
Artists in this year’s show also are eligible to submit two pieces to the competition where cash prizes in class categories and the coveted “Best of Show” will be up for grabs. Cherokee Art Market is planning an announcement of the winners, so keep your eyes to the event website for complete details.
December 7-21, 2020
Cherokee Art Market
www.cherokeeartmarket.com
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