Copyright © 2006 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

TULSA, OKLAHOMA - More than 160 Native American artists from the all corners of the United States and Canada flocked to the inaugural Cherokee Art Market, recently hosted by Cherokee Casino Resort. A juried competition kicked off the two-day event, offering $75,000 in prize money. The $5,000 Best of Show prize was awarded to world-renowned beadwork artist, Marcus Amerman, for his entry Floral Vest-Beaded. “I wanted to do a cutting-edge piece of bead work in a photo realistic style connected to a historic bead work tradition, such as the floral vest,” said Amerman. “I feel good about winning a major prize in my tribe and other southeastern tribe’s homelands. It was good to see our ancestor’s images and symbols being depicted and explored.” Amerman is most famously known for the beaded rendition of a racy Rolling Stone Magazine cover featuring actress and recording artist Janet Jackson. Jane Osti, Best of Class winner in the contemporary pottery category, says she is grateful to have an opportunity to educate the general public on the tradition of making pottery. “Most people think pottery is not art or that only the Southwest (Native American) people have pottery traditions,” said Osti, who hails from Tahlequah, OK. “I am glad to have a venue where I could educate people on the history of pottery.” According to Osti, her Cherokee ancestors used pottery as a venue to record history and customs. “Even before language was a written art, we had pottery to tell our stories,” Osti said. Osti is very proud of two former students who won prizes during the art market competition - Best of Class winner Ron Tanyan, and second runner up winner Nancy Enkey, both in the traditional pottery category. 3rd Runner Up winner in the diverse art forms category, Virginia Stroud, was “blown away” by the quality of artists attending the market. Stroud said that the exposure to local patrons was good for every artist involved. “For a first time event, (the Cherokee Art Market) was excellent. The prize money was better than I’ve seen in a long time,” Stroud said.

Related Cherokee Nation contact information:

Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager Cherokee Nation - Public Affairs Phone 918-456-0671 (Ex.2324) E-mail: ldaugherty@cherokee.org

Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org