During the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown and through the reopening afterward, the Coe Center partnered with First American Art Magazine to present an interactive Zoom series in which Native artists discussed artworks in the Coe Collections. Collections Spotlight brought deep dives into objects from the Coe collection to the public from the artist’s perspective. These events were free and open to the public.
Lisa Rutherford (Cherokee) is an artist who creates pottery, feather capes, beadwork and textiles. She was awarded the title of Cherokee National Treasure and the Anna Michell Award in 2018.
Sash
Artist: Artist Once Known
Culture/People: Cherokee
Place: Northern Carolina (Eastern Band)
Media: Red and black cotton fabric, beads and ribbon
Dimensions: L: 47.5” W: 3.5”
Date: c. 1970
RTC No: NA1059
Summary of Discussion in Collections Spotlight: (Discussion begins at 6:25)
Elements of Cherokee beadwork are the white outlines and the spiral with 3-bead flat stitch, which is historically used on Cherokee sashes, but not other forms of beadwork. The sashes today are used in dance and worn across the body. The most common colors of sashes were red, white, and blue; the Coe Collection’s sash uses red and black fabric. The white beads color originates from the historical use of shell beads. Rutherford discusses the “X” pattern found on this sash as a fire symbol. The swirls are a common symbol and are also found on pottery.
Moccasins
Artist: Artist Once Known
Culture/People: Cherokee/Choctaw/Creek
Place: North Carolina/South Carolina, Western Tennessee/South Carolina, Georgia.
Media: Tanned hide, white beads, and blue cotton fabric.
Dimensions: H: 3.25” W: 3.5” L: 8.25”
Date: 1840-1860
RTC No: NA1085ab
Summary of Discussion in Collections Spotlight: (Discussion begins at 18:00)
Rutherford talks about the process of making the moccasins with large pieces of leather and then using pieces of scrap to make flaps. The shoes shown look like groundhog hide to Rutherford. The shoes have calico rather than stitching on the edge. Lisa notes the larger beads, which could indicate an earlier age, but this suggestion is not definite. Rutherford explains what a pucker toe moccasin is, using moccasins she made as examples. She also notes that moccasin being discussed here has a more rounded shape, using her moccasins as a contrasting example.
Moccasins
Artist: Artist Once Known
Culture / People: Delaware or Caddo
Place: Prairie region, USA
Media: Hide, glass beads, beads, velvet, and silk
Dimensions: 2.5 x 3.5 x 9 in. (6.3 x 8.9 x 22.8 cm).
Date: n.d.
RTC No: NA0977 a, b
Summary of Discussion in Collections Spotlight: (Discussion begins at 27:30 in video)
Rutherford says these moccasins look like traditional Cherokee moccasins with beadwork on the toe. Negative space is used a lot in Cherokee beadwork design. There is velvet on the flaps with a satin ribbon edge. Rutherford says earlier designs were created using white beads but that after the Trail of Tears, their use was not as common.
Bowl
Artist: Artist Once Known
Culture/People:
Place: Spiro Mound, Le Flore County, Oklahoma
Media: Clay
Dimensions: H: 5.75” Diam: 10”
Date: c. 1200-1250 AD
RTC No: NA0579
Summary of Discussion in Collections Spotlight: (Discussion begins at 40:53)
This bowl is Spiro and is connected to various tribes through the use of the scroll pattern. Rutherford talks about a Spiro artifact at the National Museum of the American Indian. She notes how it was incised with something wide, or maybe a shell which she has done before for a textured appearance. This object may have been tempered with mussel shells, which would have a slight appearance. Rutherford notes that the shells can be precarious.