Authentic Cherokee Art by Grant Morris
“Osiyo”,
I’m a citizen of the Cherokee Nation (Wolf Clan), raised in Oklahoma and now residing in the Front Range near Manitou Springs, CO. Additionally, I’m an award winning artist and a certified Native American Artist by The Indian Arts and Crafts Board, of The US Department of the Interior. My free time is spent enjoying the outdoors, often collecting the materials used in my art. I’m a self taught artist and my creations are only limited by the materials I collect.
As I hike, I look for and collect interesting pieces of wood; often not yet visualizing what they will become. Most my material used in my art is collected between 8,500 and 11,800’ (the top of the tree line). It is not uncommon to hike 5 miles and 1500’ in elevation to return with one special piece of material. Semi-precious minerals can be found nearby, where I collect amazonite, smoky quartz and crystal. You will often find these materials imbedded in my art along with materials more common to pueblo artist such as turquoise and red coral.
I only use fallen and dead trees that I legally obtain. Trees succumbed to insect damage or fire, are special; allowing nature to contribute to the one of a kind beauty of each piece. It is important to me to bring out the natural beauty and spirit within the wood. Creations are not forced; allowing nature to participate, if not dominate the art. Although I do look for traditional Cherokee themes, the wood ultimately guides the creation. Eventually, the wood will let me know what it wants to be and that is when the journey to bring the dead wood back to life begins. “Wado!”
