Northeastern Art Student Recognized by Cherokee Nation

By NSU Staff Writer Dustin Woods

A Northeastern State University Art Student recently was recognized by the Cherokee Nation during the Cherokee National Holiday.
Summer Sugar was awarded the Chiefs Choice award for her painting, which was purchased by Cherokee Nation Enterprises for display in its office.

The painting at the Cherokee Nation show is called U du du which means grandfather in Cherokee, Sugar said.

Many artists from the area and beyond gathered to display their work in the show, part of the Cherokee National Holiday festivities.
There were many categories, and the Chief chose only one to win the Chiefs Choice for the year," Sugar said. "I was honored that my piece was chosen since it had a lot of personal importance to me.

Sugar, whose father attended NSU to study fine arts, honed her artistic skills upon entering college.

Ive always known how to draw, but it wasn't until I was a freshman in college that I realized I wanted to pursue being a serious artist," she said. "My favorite medium that I prefer to work with is acrylic and the various acrylic mediums.

"Just recently I discovered pastels and I enjoy working with those as well.

Sugar was among more than a dozen NSU art students whose works were displayed in the Gilcrease Museum earlier this summer.

I was excited to have my art chosen to be displayed in such a well-known museum," Sugar said. "It was also a big opportunity for us students to have a larger audience to see our work.

Art is an important element of expression, and Sugar believes it crucial to culture.

"I feel the role of art is very important in higher education, it is the backbone of civilization, and has long survived in humanity," she said.

"Without art, who are we?"

9/21/2009

Published: 2009-09-21 00:00:00