Contemporary Cherokee artists’ Connections to past and present makers and place.

Artists will create/show a representative piece of their art and be shown next to pieces, both historical and contemporary master artists, their inspirations, connections or disconnections to place. Inspirations can extend beyond an artist-to-artist relationship and can be centered in place, rooted in thought or object, central to land, and worldview. These types of inspirations can be represented in a variety of ways, e.g. backdrops, sound, images, etc. This exhibit will have the feel of a vision or mood board aesthetic that displays the artist’s process of how the artist creates. Artists will be asked to visually tie each piece together with a material that is central to their work (examples: basket weavers using splints, or finger weavers using yarn or twine)

Cherokee Artists will consider the 14 generations surrounding them, including the 7 generations that came before us, the 7 generations yet to come, and how their artwork connects all of these past and future Cherokee people together through place and through their art. Artists will create a site-specific “mood board” in MotCP’s changing exhibition space linking their art to other Cherokee artists, makers, family members, place, and concepts of homelands. Artists may show representative piece/s of their art alongside historical or contemporary works, working individually or collaboratively alongside family members or mentors. 7 spaces will be reserved for artists to submit proposals.

Enrolled Tribal Citizens of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Cherokee Nation, and United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians.

Artist Proposal Due: Friday, September 18th, 2026, by 12:00am EST.
Artist Notified of Selection Status: Thursday, October 2nd, 2026, at 5pm EST.
All Artist Paperwork Due: Thursday, October 15th, 2026, at 5pm EST This includes updated final artist proposal, object list, artist statement, artist bio, and fully signed contract.
Object Intake: Monday, November 2nd, 2026, at 12:00pm EST – Wednesday, November 25th at 5:00pm EST.
Object Install: Monday, February 1st, 2027, at 10:00am EST – Tuesday, March 9th, 2027, at 5:00pm EST.
Exhibit Opening: Friday, March 12th, 2027, at 5:00pm EST.
Exhibit Closing: Wednesday, December 29th, 2027, at 5:00pm EST.

• Artist proposals must include written descriptions of proposed work, materiality of proposed work, and at least three photos of previous work. Sketches of proposed work are encouraged but not required.
  Artists will submit at least one piece of their own original artwork.
• Artists will select objects, archival materials, natural materials, or any other materials that inspire or inform their artwork. Artists are welcome (and encouraged) to pull materials from MotCP’s permanent collections, which can be accessed at https://motcp.org/collections/.
• Artists will work with MotCP collections staff and a mountmaker to install their artwork within their designated space in the exhibition. Square footage of the space the artist would like to fill is slightly negotiable. This will include 8’ to 10’ of wall space, by 3’ to 4’ of floor space – equivalent to 24 square feet to 40 square feet of space to fill.
• Artists are responsible for installing and maintaining their artwork for the duration of the exhibition (Friday, March 12th, 2027, until December 29th, 2027).
• AI (Artificial Intelligence) generated art will not be accepted for this exhibition.

• Selected artists will receive a $500 honorarium for participating in this exhibition.
• All mediums are welcome.
• If equipment is needed for the artwork/installation to function, the artist will be responsible for providing the equipment as part of their loan to the MotCP.