``Trails of Tears'' Project to Memorialize Native Americans in Monumental Mural by Oklahoma Artist Poteet Victory.SANTA FE Santa Fe, city, Argentina Santa Fe, city (1991 pop. 341,000), capital of Santa Fe prov., NE Argentina, a river port near the Paraná, with which it is connected by canal. , N.M.--(BUSINESS WIRE FEATURES)--Aug. 16, 1999-- A tragic and mostly forgotten episode in American History over 160 years ago will be the subject of a huge mural project announced today by Oklahoma artist R. Poteet Victory (Cherokee-Choctaw). Victory, 51, an internationally respected artist who has lived in Santa Fe since 1988, said he has begun work on studies for a mixed media triptych mural that at completion will measure 25' by 50'. The piece will likely be housed permanently at the University of Oklahoma University of Oklahoma, abbreviated OU, is a coeducational public research university located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. in Norman. The work will commemorate the "Trail of Tears Trail of Tears Forced migration of the Cherokee Indians in 1838–39. In 1835, when gold was discovered on Cherokee land in Georgia, a small minority of Cherokee ceded all tribal land east of the Mississippi for $5 million. The U.S. " in 1838 and other so-called "Indian removals" of the period where members of more than 40 indigenous tribes including Apaches, Comanches, Cherokees, Choctaws, Chickasaws, Creeks and Seminoles were forced from their ancestral lands and herded on long marches to present-day Oklahoma. Thousands perished along the way from hunger, cold, illness and sorrow and many of those who survived found themselves impoverished. In one case, members of the Cherokee tribe were removed from their homes at bayonet bayonet Short, sharp-edged, sometimes pointed weapon, designed for attachment to the muzzle of a firearm. According to tradition, it was developed in Bayonne, France, early in the 17th century and soon spread throughout Europe. point by presidential order in contravention A term of French law meaning an act violative of a law, a treaty, or an agreement made between parties; a breach of law punishable by a fine of fifteen francs or less and by an imprisonment of three days or less. In the U.S. of a landmark Supreme Court decision affirming the rights of the Cherokee Nation to remain on its land in Georgia. More than four years ago Victory, who as a child in rural Oklahoma had heard stories of the "Indian removals," began thinking of creating a permanent memorial called the "Trails of Tears," in size much like the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C., dedicated to all 40 tribes that suffered under the Federal government's relocation policy. "For a great while the idea of a monumental painting to raise the awareness of the 'Trail of Tears' has occupied my thoughts," Victory said. "My interest and passion for this painting have grown to the point that I feel it is the most significant work of art I will ever create." Not intended to portray actual events surrounding the forced migrations, the mural will depict a series of powerful symbolic and spiritual images representing the Birth, Death and Rebirth of the Native American. A nonprofit "Trails of Tears Monumental Painting Fund" has been established by the Cherokee National Historical Society in Oklahoma to receive tax-deductible contributions. The project has also received the endorsement of the Oklahoma state house, members of the state legislature A state legislature may refer to a legislative branch or body of a political subdivision in a federal system. The following legislatures exist in the following political subdivisions: At a fund-raising dinner in Santa Fe, a preliminary study of one of the mural's three panels was unveiled. Victory said that though he will continue to do the preliminary work in Santa Fe, the painting of the full size murals will likely be done at the University with the help of student apprentices and will probably take one year to complete. Victory said he anticipates a successful private and corporate sponsorship program which will not only allow the sending of the mural on a domestic and international museum tour before its permanent installation but the establishment of a Native American art American art, the art of the North American colonies and of the United States. There are separate articles on American architecture, North American Native art, pre-Columbian art and architecture, Mexican art and architecture, Spanish colonial art and architecture, education scholarship fund. Note to Photo Editors: Color glossy photos and 35mm color slides of Victory and the unfinished study are available by calling 505/ 984-1774. |
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