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The Headdress - A painting
By Talmadge Davis

TAHLEQUAH, OK - More than 300 stunning works of art were unveiled Saturday as winners of the 31st Annual Trail of Tears Art Show were announced at an Awards Ceremony and Luncheon at the Cherokee Heritage Center. Bank of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Arts Council are sponsors of the art show.

The winner of the Grand Award is 'The Headdress', a painting by Talmadge Davis. The Grand Award winner receives $1,500 in prize money. It is given to the work judged the most significant expression of art that exhibits the best overall quality, composition, technical achievement and historical accuracy using the criteria established for each category.

Other winners include: Best Painting, 'Great Plains Joust' by Barthell LittleChief; Best Graphic, 'Daughter of the Morning Star' by Robert McMurtry; Best Sculpture, 'The Fancy Dancer' by Janice Albro; Best Trail of Tears Theme, 'Stories From the Seven Clans About the Bitter Journey' by Bill Glass, Jr.; Best Miniature, 'New Vows and Old Songs' by Merlin Little Thunder; Best Pottery, 'Embracing the Earth' by Jane Osti; Best Basket, 'Gift From the Son' by Lena Blackbird; Best Beadwork, 'Our Fires Still Burn' by Martha Berry; Best Textile, 'Muscogee ‘Firewatcher’' by Jeana Kelly Gouge; Best Jewelry, 'First Mobile Home' by Shirley Willis.

Special Merit Awards went to the following works: 'Vision of Tears', Trail of Tears Theme by Donald K. Guess; 'Crow Girl on a Horse' a painting by K. Henderson; 'Turtle of Tall Tales', pottery by Crystal Hanna; 'Beaded Buckskin Ladies Dance Purse' by Marie Janelle Martin; 'Men's Beaded Moccasins U.S. Flag Pattern' by Sherry Brown Shafer; 'Telling Tales', a graphic by Betty Fletcher; 'The Green Corn Ceremony', a painting by Johnny Tiger, Jr.; 'As Long as the Water Flows', a painting by Troy Anderson; 'Lakota Charging', a painting by Chebon Lee Barnoski; 'Gathering Poke Salad', a painting by Norma Howard; 'Meeting of the Nighthawks and the Snakes', a painting by Joan Hill; 'To Our Ancestors', a sculpture by Charlie Bousman; 'Drum Group' a miniature by Dana Tiger; 'The Quill Society', a painting by Virginia Stroud; 'Cherokee War Dance', a painting by Murv Jacob; 'Sequoyah', a sculpture by Gary Renegar; 'Little Brother of War - Ancient Cherokee Ways', a painting by Bob Thomason; 'The Four Directions, The Four Seasons of Life', a painting by Dorothy Sullivan; 'Medicine Moon', a painting by Jackson Narcomey; and 'Buffaloed Again', a painting by Benjamin Harjo.

Honorable mentions went to the following works: 'Drowning Bear', a graphic by Troy Anderson; 'Crystal Gazer', a sculpture by Crystal Hanna; 'Eagle's Song', pottery by Crystal Hanna; 'Path's Crossing', a miniature by Bob Thomason; 'Cherokee Victory Dance-Eagle Dance', a sculpture by Troy Anderson; 'The Confrontation', a painting by Talmadge Davis; 'Cheyenne Raiders', a painting by Chebon Lee Barnoski; 'Warrior's Heart', a sculpture by Talmadge Davis; 'The Twins and Their Twins', a painting by Merlin Little Thunder; 'Mi-Zhe-Tah (Red Sun)', a sculpture by Gary Renegar; 'Water Spider', pottery by P. J. Stewart; 'Kiowa Leggings,” bead work by Richard Aitson; 'Still Holding Hands', a miniature by Skip Rowell; 'Southwestern Pottery', pottery by K. Henderson, “Many Blessings,” a sculpture by Daniel Horse Chief; 'Rhythm of Life', a painting by Virginia Stroud; 'Cherokee Fire/, a painting by James Davis; 'Family Biscuit Basket', by Bessie Russell; 'Death Leaned Over and Kissed His Chosen One', a graphic by Mike Menasco; 'Memories When Wearing Grandma's Tear Dress', a sculpture by Bill Glass, Jr.; 'Medicine Eagle', bead work by Barthell LittleChief; 'Black/White Bowl', a painting by Sherwood Begaye; 'The Lookouts', a sculpture by Chad Johnson; "Double Chief's Daughter," a basket by Betty Frogg; 'Ceremonial Fan', bead work by Richard Aitson; 'Keeper of the Lake', a painting by Earl Payne; 'Pueblo Sash Belt', textiles by Julius ''Nashana'' Othole; 'Crow Dichotomy', a painting by Matthew Bearden; 'Southern Woodlands Trade Bead Necklace #2', jewelry by Joyce Starwalker; and 'I Stand Alone', a graphic by Mike Menasco.

The Trail of Tears Art Show will hang May 4 - 26. All works are for sale. For buyers who cannot attend, photographs of the entries will be available on the Cherokee Heritage Center's web site. For more information, call 918-456-6007.