TAHLEQUAH, Okla. –
The Cherokee Nation is now accepting submissions for the 55th annual Trail of Tears Art Show, the longest-running Native American art show and competition in Oklahoma.
The exhibition will be held April 11 through May 16 in the Gallery at Cherokee Springs Plaza and online at TrailofTearsArtShow.com. Organizers are encouraging Native artists from across the country to apply before the Feb. 27 deadline.
The show began in 1972 as a way to showcase paintings depicting removal themes by the five tribes in the region. Over the decades, it has expanded to include artists from federally recognized tribes nationwide and a wide range of artistic mediums.
“It’s always been an intertribal show, and throughout the years we’ve really expanded that to include tribes across the nation and all kinds of different categories,” said Callie Chunestudy, who is helping coordinate the event.
Today, the exhibition features painting, sculpture, pottery, basketry, graphics, jewelry, miniatures, diverse art forms, textiles and photography and digital art. All artwork must have been created within the last 18 months.
“I think visitors to the show will really be impressed with the ingenuity of our artists and the contemporary work,” Chunestudy said. “It’s not like things that you would just traditionally kind of think about as Native American artwork. There’s really a lot of ingenuity and forward thinking in the work.”
Application Process
Artists must be at least 18 years old and citizens of a federally recognized Native American tribe or nation. There is no entry fee. Each artist may submit up to three pieces in any category.
Submissions must be completed online by 11:59 p.m. CST on Feb. 27 at TrailofTearsArtShow.com/application. Complete rules and category details are available on the website.
Through the competition, artists will vie for more than $18,000 in total awards.
An awards reception is scheduled for April 10 from 6 to 8:30 p.m., followed by the public opening on April 11 at 10 a.m.
The Gallery at Cherokee Springs Plaza is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is located at 3377 Cherokee Springs Road in Tahlequah.
Additional information is available at VisitCherokeeNation.com.
