Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

Western Carolina University (20) View all

Stone carving: figure

  • wcu_craft_revival-6846.jp2
  • This photograph is of a pendant by John Julius Wilnoty (1940-2016). The carving, made in 1960, was made of stone and is 3 inches high. It was pictured in a 1971 brochure published by the Indian Arts and Crafts Board and Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual to accompany an exhibition of Wilnoty's carvings. A member of the Eastern Band, Wilnoty was born in the Cherokee community of Bigwitch. Known for carvings displaying a rich and complex mythology, Wilnoty was completely self taught. He worked primarily in steatite, a dark-hued pipestone. The 1971 exhibition included 21 carvings on loan from a variety of collections, including the Indian Arts and Crafts Board, Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual, Burgess Indian Museum, and the Medicine Man Craft Shop. The brochure includes quotes from the artist and a brief biography. Several photographs are included, as well as a list of the works on display.