Cherokee Blog

Generations of Cherokee artists are represented at the Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual, the nation’s oldest Native American Cooperative that preserves and promotes the traditional arts and crafts of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. While the shop is open year round, the annual Open Air Indian Art Market provides visitors an opportunity to meet many Cherokee artists who are members of Qualla Arts and Crafts, and watch them create their masterpieces.

At any age, artists bring their own perspective and experience to their craft. In addition to learning from those who came before, makers within the same generation can impact each other’s work. “Renewal of the Ancient: Cherokee Millennial Artists” will open September 1 at the Museum of the Cherokee Indian in Cherokee, NC. This new exhibit features more than 60 works from 18 artists who are members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, ages 40 and under.

Join over 20 Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians artists December 4-6, 2020 for the Kananesgi Virtual Art Market. Kananesgi is the Cherokee word for spider. The spider represents creativity in our culture. In 2020, Kananesgi Art Market organizers had to match the event namesake and the artists’ creativity because of Covid-19.