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Cherokee Art Flourishes in Hard Times
America's indigenous people hold on to their cultural identity through the Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual which was formed in 1946 in response to the increased interest in native handcrafts. The Cherokee saw the craft revival as a way to make money and protect their heritage.
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One of the artisans with items in the Mutual’s permanent collection is Cherokee artist Lucy N. George. George, who died in 1978, was renowned for her honeysuckle baskets.
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Qualla Arts also boasts a permanent collection. Most items in the permanent collection were created by artists revered by the tribe; some living and some that have since passed away.
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Davy Arch is a well-known Cherokee artist and a member of the Mutual, which he says keeps a lot of traditions alive.
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Social reformers and the government see local handcrafts as a path toward economic development in one of the nation's poorest regions, the Appalachian region of the Southeastern United States.