An abundance of shows, museums and events take place in the Southwest—in places like Santa Fe, Phoenix and Los Angeles—but collectors are encouraged to look beyond the deserts of the Southwest when hunting to inspiration for their collections.
Museum of Native American History in Bentonville, Arkansas.
The Southeast is one of those regions worth checking out, with museums and historic destinations all around the region, from Louisiana to Georgia, Florida to the Carolinas. In Alabama, for instance, there are a number of sites and cultural venues that focus on the Mississippian cultures, including Indian Mound and Museum, Moundville Archaeological Park and the Oakville Indians Mounds Park and Museum.
Several noteworthy stops in Florida include the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum, which focuses on the Seminole people, and also the James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art in St. Petersburg, which has a large and diverse collection that includes Native American jewelry. In Georgia, a must-stop city is Cartersville, home to the Booth Western Art Museum, the Museum of Southeastern Indians and the Etowah Indian Mounds Historic Site.
The Carolinas boast a number of great destinations: the Museum of the Cherokee Indian and the Museum of the Southeast American Indian, both in North Carolina, and to the south are the Catawba Cultural Center and the Museum of the Cherokee in South Carolina. Another important destination in North Carolina is the Cherokee County Historical Museum, which serves as the interpretive center for the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail.
Vivian Garner Cottrell (Cherokee), United First Nations, black walnut root and bloodroot dyed splints, natural rivercane splints, white oak rim and lashing, 9½ x 10 x 10”. The basket will be on view at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport through November 4, 2024.
Over in Arkansas, on the far western edge of the region, is the Museum of Native American History, which offers a 24,000-year journey into the past. The museum is located in Bentonville, which is also home to the world-famous Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Although that museum shows artwork from all throughout American history, it has had significant showings of Native American art from the permanent collection and in traveling exhibitions.
To see a detailed list of American museums by category, including Native American art, visit www.museums.us.
An Artist to Watch
Vivian Garner Cottrell (Cherokee)
A recipient of the Cherokee National Living Treasure Award, Vivian Garner Cottrell is a rivercane basket maker. “My family taught me the importance of passing knowledge forward to the younger generations. Before I leave this world I want to be able to teach as many as want to learn…” she says. “Traditional Cherokee rivercane basket makers are few today. I am one of a handful. I spend several months out of the year harvesting, splitting and peeling my weaving materials from the canebrakes, dyeing the splints with natural dye materials. The rivercane baskets I weave represent a continuance of Cherokee culture that will not be forgotten.”
(405) 471-7587 • vivcott@sbcglobal.net
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