LIFT Contemporary hosts regular open mic nights and art discussion groups. It also has regular and special art exhibits. It is open every day and there is no admission. For specific information about any events call 828.497.0707. LIFT is located at 516 Tsali Boulevard.

Upcoming

2/11 — American Jam Band: Cooking With Quanta. 8 to 11 p.m.
2/14 — Valentine sweets by candlelight at LIFT Café. Begins at dusk.
2/18 — Opening reception for artists John Henry Gloyne, John Grant and Lori Lossie. 7 p.m.
2/26 — Exhibit opening: “...of the Cave.” An exhibit featuring 10 tribal artists in celebration of Cherokee’s revitalization. Active exhibition includes man-made expression cave where visitors may draw with charcoal. Runs through Aug. 6.

Ongoing

• A knitting group meets every Friday at 6 p.m.
• Art critiques/discussions led by John W. Grant are held every other Monday at 7 p.m.
• Art appreciation/international art marketing classes are held from 6 to 8 p.m. through March.

Leon Grodski and Natalie Smith believe Cherokee culture and art are in a renaissance. Their dream is to serve as catalysts in the revival.

“We want to show that the Cherokee are here as a contemporary culture and people,” says Smith, a member of the Eastern Band and co-owner of LIFT Contemporary gallery, coffeehouse and non-profit art space. “So many people here just do it. Art is a way of life for so many people.”

Smith and Grodski’s business is located in the old Teepee Restaurant near the Cherokee Visitors Center. The restaurant was an institution for many who live and work on the Qualla Boundary, but when it became vacant Smith and Grodski had to compete with other entrepreneurs who wanted to lease the space. They developed a business plan and went before the Tribal Council with their idea.

“We argued that we were diversifying the economy on this side of town and that this would become a catalyst for artists on the reservation,” said Grodski.

With support from the Tribe, the couple — Smith, 27, an art education major who initially dreamed of being a curator, and Grodski, 31, a multi-media artist who has exhibited throughout the world — opened LIFT in late October 2004. In addition to the coffeehouse, they’ve had live entertainment, sponsored discussion evenings on art-related topics, created exhibit space for Native American artists and held their first international art show.

“Lots of Cherokee work is based on tradition, but it is still experimental. Lots of these artists have never had a place to show,” said Grodski.

That dream of highlighting contemporary Cherokee art that is both modern but rooted in traditional culture is the foundation that the couple built their business on. Smith says her grandfather worked for decades in the old Cherokee Factory making trinkets for tourists, but that she and Grodski aspire to create interest in the original artistic endeavors of those who live and work on the reservation. One section of LIFT is set aside for Cherokee artists.

“Now we have other avenues to re-create our image. We want to highlight the artist, not the artifact,” says Smith.

Grodski’s contacts in the international art scene should play a significant role as LIFT carves out its niche in the art world. He was born in Brooklyn and later was the artist-in-residence at Western Carolina University. He knows curators throughout Europe and the United States and has worked with well-known artists, but his best-known accomplishment may be creating the animation for the helicopter scene in the musical “Miss Saigon.”

As he and Smith prepared to open LIFT, Grodski sought out and made connections with regional curators such as those at the Knoxville Museum of Art, Black Mountain College, the head of the art department at Appalachian State University and David Solow in Durham. The connections helped lead to LIFT’s first major show, “Flight,” which closed in January. Grodksi described the exhibit as “an artistic exploration into that word.”

In addition to its importance artistically, “Flight” also symbolized something else for Grodksi.

“It explores how the Cherokee are in a kind of renaissance,” he said.

The line-up of artists exhibiting was impressive and included Yoko Ono (who was an internationally know artist before she ever married John Lennon). Perhaps more important, though, was what Grodski discovered as he began pursuing artists for the show.

“Lots of these artists wanted to show in Cherokee. They liked the idea of being a part of a major show on a Native American reservation,” said Grodski.

That discovery parallels the mission of Grodski and Smith.

“People who visit here totally want to find out about Cherokee culture. We want this place to fill that role, to be a place where art, discussion and people come together. When someone comes in off the street for a cup of coffee, we want them to be able to experience authentic Cherokee culture,” said Grodksi.

So while they serve organically grown coffees and host open mic nights, Grodski and Smith also hope to make Cherokee an important part of the international art scene. Doing that would open doors for Native American artists who call Cherokee home.

“We want to help create a vital, artistic place,” says Grodski. “It’s a work in progress, and we’re constantly searching, re-creating.”