The tallest building in North Carolina west of Asheville is being erected in Cherokee, and architects, designers and contractors are working to ensure Harrah’s new hotel and expo is beautiful and impressive.

The Ani`Yun`wiyahi (Principal People) Committee is working toward a different end — to ensure it is Cherokee.

Tribal council member Marie Junaluska is also an Ani`Yun`wiyahi committee member, and she said the committee was created to assure that the new hotel conference center was culturally authentic.
“It has been an exciting adventure,” Junaluska said.

The eight-member committee has commissioned local artists to produce a variety of contemporary Cherokee artwork for display throughout the hotel and conference center. All artists are enrolled members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee and all works are originals.

Artwork exhibited will include Pendleton blankets, framed art, sandblasted glass, prints, sculptures, crafts and beadwork. Sequoyah’s syllabry will also be prominently displayed.

Junaluska said the committee was able to find some appropriate artwork to purchase, like clan masks created by Billy Welch. But the majority of the work was commissioned.

Norma Moss of Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise and Denise McEvoy, senior project manager for FoxCor Inc., have assisted the committee with the project.

“Traditionally an interior designer comes up with a scheme of artwork and plantings for a structure like the hotel, but the tribe wanted something more unique,” said McEvoy.

The artwork will be displayed throughout the common places of the hotel.

“It will be a repository, not a museum,” she said. “The idea is to get a look at the last 60 years of Cherokee culture through the eyes of the artist. We were looking for a progressive, rather than museum style. More of a gallery feeling. Perhaps, in the future, there will be artists doing sittings on the premise.”

“It is an honor to paint for the tribe,” said Clarence Welch, one of the artists commissioned to produce artwork. “This is a great project.”

Welch, who is self-taught, will have three woodland murals on display.

Jenean Hornbuckle will be one of the most prominently displayed artists. She is doing five large murals that will be used in the restaurant area. Hornbuckle has a bachelor’s of fine art degree from Western Carolina University. She said the opportunity was not only an honor but “great exposure.” Hornbuckle’s work will represent area scenes like the gorges from Big Cove.

Nikki Nations is another self-taught local artist. Although she has been painting 30 years, Nations is still shy about displaying her work publicly.

“My kids have the majority of my art,” she said.

They don’t have it all, however. She has a painting of Socco Gap that hangs in the chief’s conference room at the casino. Nations said she paints from sketches and from memory.

Works from many other enrolled members will also be on display. Artists include Bud Smith, Maggie Wachacha, Faren Crews, Roberta Walkingstick and Sharon McCoy.

The committee is also focusing on Cherokee youth. Some of the artwork on display will be a cooperative effort between students and seasoned artists.

Junaluska said one of the primary missions of the Ani`Yun`wiyahi Committee is to reach out to the community.

“Getting students involved is one way of doing this,” she said.

Another way will be retaining the studio where the artists are presently working so it may be used by the community on a permanent basis. The commissioned artists had to submit studies of the work they intended to do for the conference center. These studies will be auctioned at the grand opening and the proceeds will go to the Ani`Yun`wiyahi Committee to benefit the youth art program.

It looks like grand opening of the center has been pushed back from October to January but the artists are trying to stick to their previous deadline. One of the reasons is the amount of time it takes for oil paintings to dry — a couple of months just for the surface and up to year to dry totally.

Junaluska said the committee is thrilled about the venture. Not only will it enhance the conference center, it will provide an impressive collection of contemporary Cherokee art which the tribe will own.

 

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The Smoky Mountain News