Cherokee Art presents an impressive narrative of a resilient people who took the harsh realities of displacement, upheaval, and systematic attempts at cultural eradication to create a vibrant and enduring aesthetic language.
The Cherokee Nation, one of the largest and most influential tribes in North America, has more than 350,000 members spread across the United States. Their culture and history are vividly encapsulated in the wide array of stunningly beautiful Cherokee artistic creations.
Principles of Cherokee Art
At its core, Cherokee art is comprehensive, combining aesthetics, functionality, and deep symbolism. It integrates representations of the natural world, spiritual beliefs and the tribe’s cultural heritage. This can be seen in their pottery, basket weaving, textile work, beadwork, wood carving, and silversmith art.
Everything that the Cherokee artists create – from the smallest silver ornament to the vast landscape mural – carries meaning and purpose.
Pottery
Cherokee pottery is a cherished tradition – beautiful, functional, and steeped with historical significance.
The pottery traditionally showcased narratives from the Cherokee oral tradition, natural elements like animals, and symbols. Such narrative works not only offered aesthetic value, but also served as a practical medium for storytelling and preserving cultural memories.
Furthermore, The Cherokee artists often used local clays and tempering agents to produce a variety of pottery forms such as bowls, jars, and effigy vessels.
Basket Weaving
Basket weaving is another highly regarded art form within the Cherokee culture. Through centuries, the Cherokee craftspeople worked with materials like river-cane, white oak and hickory bark, creating striking patterns inspired by nature and spirituality.
The skill of basket weaving is passed down through generations, thus being an important aspect of cultural inheritance. The baskets are often used in ceremonies as well as for utilitarian purposes, thus embodying the Cherokee principle of utility blended with aesthetics.
Sculpture and Carving
Cherokee carvings are known for their storytelling prowess, capturing the tribe’s history and spirituality in stone, wood, and bone. The carvings often depict men, women, mythical creatures, and animals, each representing an aspect of their rich folklore.
Textile and Beadwork
Cherokee were experienced weavers. Textiles were an essential part of their daily life providing clothing, household goods, and ceremonial items. Beadwork forms an important aspect of these textiles.
Beadwork is an art form seen in Cherokee pieces ranging from clothing and accessories to ceremonial items. Intricate details are woven into these objects, narrating stories and capturing various aspects of Cherokee life and traditions.
Contemporary Cherokee Art
Contemporary Cherokee artists continue these ancestral practices but also not afraid of innovating and finding new means of expressing their cultural identity. They often incorporate traditional techniques and symbology in modern forms such as painting, digital art, and installation, bridging the past and future in dynamic modes of creation.
Conclusion
Looking at their art– past and present – gives us a complex, nuanced insight into the myriad experiences that comprise the Cherokee existence. Each artisan, in their unique style and form, continues to add chapters to the unfolding narrative of the Cherokee Nation, echoing the words of their ancestors, yet speaking in a voice that is distinctly their own.
From each immaculately woven basket to every intricately detailed beadwork, the rich tapestry of Cherokee life is captured in its art, reflecting undying resilience, monumental history, and the vibrant culture of this powerful community.
Cherokee art serves as a vital portal to understanding and appreciating this extraordinary tribe and their journey through history. It is a testament to their strength, their heritage, and the timeless beauty of their culture.
Sources
- Power, Susan C. “Art of the Cherokee: Prehistory to the Present.” University of Georgia Press, 2007.
- Perdue, Theda. “Cherokee Women: Gender and Culture Change, 1700-1835.” University of Nebraska Press, 1998.