Patrick Myers - 'Corn Tassel' - Cherokee Music and Art

Trail of Tears
Watercolor

Toward the Light
Acrylic on Canvas
2024

Worship Dancers
Acrylic on Canvas
2024

Another in the worship dancers series, this painting is of three dancers with the Indigenous band Broken Walls. The composition was developed with variations on the primary colors of yellow, blue, and red in their actual regalia, but more importantly the painting is about these women expressing their faith and worship through dance.

Worship Dancer 7
Acrylic on Canvas
2024

One of a series of paintings in various mediums of women and men of different tribes expressing their faith through dance.

Grandmother
Pencil on Paper
2025

Cherokee War Dance
Alasgida Danuwa Tsalagi
Acrylic on Canvas
2023

The traditional Cherokee dancer in this painting is actually also a United States Marine. He’s part of the Warriors of AniKituhwa, a Cherokee dance group with historically accurate Cherokee regalia. The Cherokee have always been a peaceful tribe, but like any nation, have had warriors who protect their own people when needed. Rather than glorifying war, this dance is traditionally a spiritual preparation to fend off an enemy. Today it can also be a call to put on spiritual armor to protect ourselves and loved ones (Ephesians 6:10-18).
Profound thanks to each veteran who has sacrificed more than we know to protect our people, and so many other people around the world.

Young Cherokee Woman
Ageyv Ayoli Tsalagi
Acrylic on Canvas
2023

Worship Dancer 6
Paul Flores IV - Apache/Yaqui - Grass Dance
2023
One of a series of paintings in various mediums of women and men of different tribes expressing their faith through dance.
Paul's facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paul.floresiv

Green Corn Dance
2022

This painting is based on a Cherokee cultural presentation at the Smithsonian. Green Corn is a traditional ceremony of thanksgiving to Unelanvhi, the Creator of the universe. The man’s motions indicate harvesting corn, which he places in an imaginary basket held by the woman. Her beaded cross medallion includes thanks for the provision of food (corn) and each new day (sunrise).

Faith in Unelanvhi, the Creator of the universe, has been a central part of Cherokee life for countless generations. According to the Cherokee Nation, the majority of Cherokees identify as Christians. Original Cherokee songs from the Trail of Tears, 1838-1839, are sung to ‘Tsisa’ (Jesus). Many Cherokees express their faith through traditional cultural expressions such as the Green Corn Dance.

Worship Dancer 5
Watercolor
2022
The 5th in a series of paintings of contemporary Indigenous dancers worshiping the Creator. The regalia of many dancers today includes long, multicolored ribbons that flow with their movements.

Cherokee National Youth Choir
2022

Beyond the colorful patterns of their dresses and ribbon shirts, their faces express many emotions as they worship. This choir sings traditional and contemporary Cherokee songs from the profound faith tradition of the Cherokee people. As an example, this is their recording of an original song written on the Trail of Tears in the 1830s:
One Drop of Blood - Cherokee Hymn Sung on the Trail of Tears
I recorded a much simpler acapella version of this song; audio and lyrics are on the Music page of this website.
Click on the painting for an expanded view, and click on the thumbnails below for closer detail views.