Eufaulan Jon Tiger is one of 17 Native American artists whose works will be on display at the McClung Museum of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville for the next three years.
The exhibition is entitled Homelands: Connecting to Mounds through Native Art, which is scheduled to debut Jan. 29 and continue through December, 2027.
It is the result of a collaboration with four Native Nations connected to Knox County, Tenn., – Muscogee (Creek) Nation; Cherokee Nation, Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
“Homelands” uses Native interpretation to explore Indigenous relationships to mounds.
According to the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Indian mounds are “the visible testament of the first Mississippians. Mounds are planned earthen architecture made by Native American people for a variety of reasons including ceremonial and domestic uses.”
Tiger (a painter and member of the Muscogee- Creek Nation) left Wednesday for the university for a reception and dinner.
Two of his cousins also will have works on display – the late Jerome Tiger and Jerome’s daughter, Dana.
Other artists whose work will be displayed include: Muscogee-Creek artists – Bixy-based basket weaver Mary Smith – Johnnie Diacon of Tulsa, who does work in acrylic, oil, and watercolor.
Cherokee Nation artists Vivian Garner Cottrell Betty Frogg Jane Osti Lisa Rutherford Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Rhiannon Skye Tafoya (also, a Santa Clara Pueblo) Atsei Cooper Aaron Lambert John Henry Gloyne (also, Osage/Pawnee) Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana Eli Langley Lucy Alfaro Landon Daigle Loretta Williams
