An art intervention installed throughout the Museum of the Cherokee Indian’s permanent exhibition, Disruption invites 36 Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and Cherokee Nation artists to respond to the removal of funerary and culturally sensitive objects from public view. Made using traditional aesthetics, the contemporary works disrupting the Museum’s archaeological timeline—drawn and painted, carved from wood, shaped in clay, woven in thread, and crafted using a number of innovative mixed media methods—offer Native perspectives on Cherokee culture, history, and current issues.

Disruption is organized by MCI and curated by Evan Mathis, Director of Collections & Exhibitions, and Dakota Brown (EBCI), Director of Education.

Ticketing
Admission to Disruption is included in a general admission ticket to MCI. General admission tickets are always free for tribal citizens.

Featured Artists
Joshua Adams (EBCI), Haley Atsei Cooper (EBCI), Shennelle Feather (EBCI, Diné, Lakota), John Henry Gloyne (EBCI, Osage, Pawnee), Louise Goings (EBCI), Keli  ᎨᎳᏗ  Gonzales (Cherokee Nation), Luzene Hill (EBCI), Adrienne Keene (Cherokee Nation), Darius Lambert (EBCI), Michelle Long (EBCI), Tyra Maney (EBCI, Diné), Toby McCoy (EBCI), Tara McCoy (EBCI), Lou Montelongo (EBCI), Dylan Morgan (EBCI)¸Gina Amanda Myers (Swimmer) (EBCI), Lori Reed (EBCI), Isabella Saunooke (EBCI), Chi Shipman (EBCI), Kindra Swafford (Cherokee Nation), Jakeli Swimmer (EBCI), Mikhail Swimmer (EBCI), Kevin Tafoya (EBCI, Santa Clara Pueblo), Skye Tafoya (EBCI, Santa Clara Pueblo), Emma Taylor (EBCI), Nola Teesatuskie (EBCI), Billy Joe Welch (EBCI), Tovah Welch (EBCI), Levi West (EBCI), Jarrett Wildcatt (EBCI), Jennifer Wilson (EBCI)

e.l.e. (everybody love everybody) | Skye Tafoya (Eastern Band Cherokee, Santa Clara Pueblo)
Spearfinger | Toby McCoy (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians)
Change | Louise Goings (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians)
Matriarch | Lori Reed (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians)
ᎣᏪᏅᏒ o-we-nv-sv Home | Kindra Swafford (Cherokee Nation)
Owl Mask | Billy Joe Welch (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians)

Disruption Events

No events are scheduled at this time. Check this page for updates. Sgi!

Disruption in the News

• ‘Disruption’ is just the start of a shift in storytelling at the Museum of the Cherokee Indian (Blue Ridge Public Radio)

• After removing sensitive objects, Cherokee museum fills cases with artistic responses (Smoky Mountain News)

• “Disruption” shakes up Museum of the Cherokee Indian exhibit (Cherokee One Feather)

Press inquiries: please contact Anna Chandler, Manager of External Affairs & Communications, at anna.chandler@mci.org.