Amanda Crowe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Amanda Crowe
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Amanda Crowe demonstrating woodcarving at the Craftsmen's Fair in Cherokee, North Carolina
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| Born | July 16, 1928 Murphy, North Carolina, U.S.
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| Died | September 27, 2004 (aged 76) North Carolina, U.S.
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| Nationality | Eastern Band Cherokee, American |
| Education | School of the Art Institute of Chicago |
| Occupation | Woodcarver |
Amanda Crowe (July 16, 1928 – September 27, 2004) was a talented woodcarver and teacher. She was a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians from Cherokee, North Carolina. Amanda studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Her beautiful artwork has been shown in many museums. She spent most of her career teaching and inspiring new generations of Cherokee artists.
Early Life and Education
Amanda Crowe was born on July 16, 1928, in Murphy, North Carolina. From a very young age, she knew she wanted to be an artist. By the time she was four, she had already decided her path. Amanda said she spent "every spare minute" carving or learning about art. She even started selling her carvings when she was only eight years old!
Both of Amanda's parents passed away when she was young. Later, her foster mother helped her move to Chicago. There, she went to Hyde Park Academy High School. After high school, she attended the famous School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). In 1952, she won a special scholarship. This allowed her to study sculpture in Mexico at the Instituto Allende. That same year, she also earned her Master of Fine Arts degree from SAIC.
Art and Teaching Career
In 1953, the Cherokee Historical Association asked Amanda to come back to North Carolina. They wanted her to teach art at Cherokee High School. Her uncle, Goingback Chiltoskey, was already teaching there. Amanda set up her own studio in the Paint Town community. For almost 40 years, she taught wood carving to more than 2,000 students.
Amanda's sculptures often featured animals. She was especially famous for her amazing bears. Her carvings were smooth, stylish, and very expressive. While she also worked with stone and clay, wood was her favorite material. She loved using local woods like wild cherry, buckeye, and black walnut.
Many art experts say that Amanda Crowe greatly influenced Cherokee carving. Her work is sometimes compared to that of artist Willard Stone.
Her art can be seen in public collections at places like the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. It is also at the United States Department of the Interior and the National Museum of the American Indian. She showed her work in many museums, including the Art Institute of Chicago and the Denver Art Museum. In 2000, she received the North Carolina Folk Heritage Award.
Amanda also drew pictures for a book called Cherokee Legends and the Trail of Tears. This book was first published in 1956 and has been printed many times since.
Legacy
Amanda Crowe passed away on September 27, 2004. Many of the Cherokee sculptors working today learned from her. She left a lasting impact on Native American art. On November 9, 2018, Google honored her with a special Google Doodle.
See also
In Spanish: Amanda Crowe para niños
