AMT @ Robbinsville, NC
  
    This public mural celebrates the achievements and recognition of the local native community in this collaborative historic mural art located in the downtown center of Robbinsville.

Historic Snowbird Cherokee Mural
"Snowbird Cherokee Matriarchs"
Robbinsville, NC

Exit BR Parkway MilePost: 443
 

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Trail Member/Sponsor: Robbinsville Tourism Authority

Mural Description

     Featured Mural: "Snowbird Cherokee Matriarchs"
     When Michelle Shiplet of REVVED UP of Robbinsville, NC met with Doreyl Ammons Cain, artist & director of the Appalachian Mural Trail, she had no idea a $50,000 grant would be in their future. She had a plan for developing historical murals for her town of Robbinsville and had no clue where to start. Through this interaction the opportunity arose to apply for the Z Smith Reynolds Inclusive Public Art grant. Shiplet's first thought for the grant proposal was to honor the women of the Snowbird Cherokee Community.

     In December of 2018 Shiplet was informed that the Women of the Snowbird Community mural proposal was a semi-finalist in the grant process and they would be given funds to
develop a budget, plan and a first rough draft of the artwork for the mural. She asked Doreyl Ammons Cain of the Appalachian Mural Trail and Tj Holland, Cultural Resources Supervisor for the Eastern Band of the Cherokee to be lead artists for the project. During the next three months this creative team met with the Snowbird Community, listened to their stories and Cain came up with the first rough draft of the mural and assisted with the planning of the mural project. The art and plan was submitted in early April. On June 4, 2019 the announcement was made, the Women of the Snowbird Community mural was a reality.

     The Appalachian Mural Trail provided the structure for a community engaged process that created opportunity for accomplished and emerging Snowbird Cherokee artists to receive training in muralism and who ultimately painted the mural. Cain lead three workshops in mural painting in which direct descendants painted the portraits of their ancestors on mural board that was later incorporated into the outdoor painted mural.

     This mural project celebrates the achievements and recognition of the women of the Snowbird Cherokee community located in the town center of Robbinsville. This mural intends to build relationships and trust across lines of difference while celebrating an under told and important story. The Snowbird Cherokee are a community that is part of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, whose land base is in Graham County. While most mainstream shared knowledge about the Cherokee centers around their removal via the "Trail of Tears," the Snowbird Cherokee carry the reputation of resilience and tradition, having hidden in their mountains to escape the forced removal of their people. That same spirit of pride and survival remains with them to this day and there is no better evidence than in the lives of their many strong and gifted women. Cherokee women have proven to be wise, fearless, and filled with creativity as they have persevered through the trials of history. This remarkable community mural brings these qualities alive.
Location: 128 N. Main St.

     The image slider below includes some of the construction photos at the beginning of the art project.


Featured Mural Artists

Lead Artists-
TJ Holland- liaison, historical accuracy , Cherokee symbols (During the middle of the project TJ Holland had a fatal accident while helpiing a neighbor during an electric storm)
Doreyl Ammons Cain- Preliminary Sketches and painting of the Mural Master, mural painting workshops
Nikki Nations- On Site Mural Lead Artist

Mural Panel Artists-
1. Lois Calonehuskie Mural Panel painted by Haylee Garland
2. Edna Chekelelee Mural Panel painted by TJ Holland
3. Zena Rattler Mural Panel painted by Nikki Nations
4. Emma Garrett Mural Panel painted by Jeanne Hornbuckle
5. Ella (Ellen) Bird Mural Panel painted by Doreyl Ammons Cain
6. Shirley Jackson Oswalt Mural Panel painted by Lou Jackson
7. Maggie Wachacha Mural Panel painted by Nikki Nations

On Site Artists-
The on-site painting of the mural was a rocky road, the Pandemic and unusually intolerable weather made the painting process a hazard. The artists persevered and were triumphantly successful!
Nikki Nations
Lou Jackson
Jack Teesateshie
Tony Rattler
The background painting of the mural tells the story of the Snowbird treasured traditions of hominy making,storytelling, beadwork art and soap making.



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     AMT @ Robbinsville, NC


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     AMT @ Robbinsville, NC

Visitor
Comments


    comment by: Gloria
Love, love, love ❤ all the art we saw and experienced while in Asheville!!Laura

    comment by: Lois
Brilliant way to allow visitors to enjoy the sites and sounds that Asheville has to offer.

    comment by: Rebecca&Susan
We just loved all of the murals in Asheville! Asheville is a fun vibrant interesting town!

    comment by: Catherine Wilson
    (Asheville, NC)

As a member of Carolina Street Mural group, I learned about The Appalachian Mural Trail! After reviewing your web page. I planned my road trips to locate the trail murals, reflect on them and photograph memories of my trip!

    comment by: Tammy Compton
    (Fort Myers, Florida)

Love it! We went looking to take selfies with 3 and found over 20 murals!

    comment by: Angie Trapp
    (Concord, NC)

Beautiful mural in Sparta, one of my favorite places! 😊❤️

    comment by: Debra
    (Falls Church City, VA)

Doreyl,
Thanks for letting me know! What a great project!
It added cool stops to my visit and I love seeing art and the artist was around that day to meet.


    comment by: Cristy (Mountain City, TN)
We have been getting much more traffic around our murals, and a lot of it is due to the publicity from your organization!
Thank you!
We will unveil our newest (and largest) mural on September 4th.


    comment by: Cindy Hedrick Day
It's beautiful! Thank you!!!!
Awesome! You made my day! Love love love it!.
I saw the email re the Mural Trail special in process of being made. Can't wait to see it. We are working to finish our projects, exhibit changes, etc. Who knew it would take so long! But, it's soon finished!!!
Looking forward to seeing this!
Thank you again!!!


    comment by: Marcie Toomey
This is our second visit to Holy Trinity.. we always leave blessed and humbled ❤️

    comment by: Chelsea
Thank you so much for the quick response! I received my shirt and thoroughly enjoyed the trail! Thank you for all of the hard work put into this project!

    comment by: Debbie Dillion
Just came across your website and it is great! I plan to look for these murals in my travels. A phone app would be awesome.

    comment by: Carol
Lincolnton, NC, is loaded with murals! And I love them all!

    comment by: Barry & Cindy Beaulieu
we got to see the Fresco in W. Jefferson NC and is amazing ... we were on our two wheeler the Voyager... nature declares there is a God... everywhere you look... thanking ya'll so very very much...

    comment by: Vickie Sealock
    (Welcome Center Manager)

I love what you folks are doing. Several years ago we went to Exeter California to see their Mural trail. We spent hours in this little town looking at the murals and trying to find the hidden objects in each. We talked with the towns people, had lunch, shopped in the shops. I love the mural trails, and yours is going to be one of the best. Thanks for keeping us in the loop.

    comment by: Liz
Art is everywhere in Asheville! This gorgeous mural of Dolly Parton by Gus Cutty is the newest mural you'll see in town. Gus created the mural with spray paint in 3 days. See it for yourself at Beauty Parade on Haywood Rd in West Asheville.

    comment by: Karen
Roanoke murals are awesome to see... love the mural with girl floating in air... the poetry one was neat!

    comment by: Big Tom
This is great mural art, will be remembered a long time...

    comment by: Bob
This is very expansive mural, covers many walls inside the cradle building. Beautiful art mural, a must see!

    comment by: Dolly
Love the big murals!!!

    comment by: Lisa Patten
I love the mural trail. It's like seeing a gift at Christmas!

    comment by: Ann Barbare
Beautiful mural of Maggie Valley

    comment by: Jennifer
Love your mural artwork! The local references, the depiction of marvelous, beautiful, and colorful nature - landscapes, birds, animals, butterflies, and glorious flowers - invites close study and is very engaging!

    comment by: Carol
Looks like progress being made! Can't wait to see the mural at Joeys.

    comment by: anonymous
Can't wait to see this beautiful mural art in person at Joey's Pancake House

    comment by: Amy
I love your little sneak-a-peek view. Need more...

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     AMT @ Robbinsville, NC




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