The Cherokee Nation, located in the Qualla Boundary of western North Carolina, has a rich art and heritage that has been passed down to generations. From traditional crafts and storytelling to contemporary fine art, the Cherokee people have a long history of creating beautiful and meaningful works of art.
This video for the Blue Ridge Craft Trails features artists such as General Grant and Mary Thompson, storytellers (Matthew Tooni), and galleries (Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual) that celebrate the history of Cherokee art while continuing with innovative living traditions of today. Walk through The Oconaluftee Indian Village or The Museum of the Cherokee Indian to discover the past.
Our favorite aspect of Cherokee art is that today's work embodies the spirit of past generations. What is art today was all about functionality in the past, whether it be physically or spiritually. Baskets were used to carry food... Masks were for spiritual ceremonies. Today's living traditions celebrate and honor the past while looking forward.