Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

Western Carolina University (20) View all

Pottery: sculpture of mother and child

  • wcu_craft_revival-6661.jpg
  • This clay sculpture of a mother and child was formed from natural clay that has been slip-cast. The piece was made by Amanda Crowe (1928-2004), a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee, who is best known for figurative sculptures carved in wood. This rare clay piece by the artist is signed by the artists on its base. The piece was donated to the Southern Highland Craft Guild by Marian Heard. Born and raised in the Panther Town community on the Qualla Boundary, Crowe started drawing and carving at the age of four. She later earned a scholarship to study at the Art Institute of Chicago, where she received a Master of Fine Arts degree. She also studied at the Instituto Allende in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. After twelve years away from home, Crowe returned to Cherokee to teach art and wood carving at Cherokee High School. She taught over 2,000 Cherokee students over the course of almost 40 years. In 2000, she was the recipient of a North Carolina Folk Heritage Award.