Description

This acrylic painting I created is a depiction of various age Freedmen schoolchildren gathered on a school's grounds. As part of the painting, I included the Cherokee word for "learning" (A-NA-DE-LO-QUA-S-GV) and also showed superimposed Cherokee characters from the Cherokee syllabary in the painting. Our visual history of Freedmen in the Cherokee Nation is almost nonexistent. I wanted to capture the image of Freedmen children being educated. The Cherokee Nation started educating Cherokee Freedmen around 1872. A high school-level school did not come about until around 1890.

About the Artist

Donald Corpier Starr, a native of Wichita, Kansas. Currently living in Pahrump, Nevada. Donald is a member of the Cherokee Nation. He earned an Associate Degree in 1970 from Coffeyville College in Kansas and later attended and studied art at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Enlisted in the U.S. Air Force from 1971 to 1979. I received a degree in occupational education from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, in 1983. Received an MFA (Illustration) from Syracuse University in 1990. I worked as a production artist in Seattle in the late seventies. I later worked as a civil service graphic specialist and videographer with the Department of Navy and Department of Labor (Mine Safety and Health Administration 1980-2012, retired). Has exhibited art in local, regional, and national art competitions and shows starting in 1970 to the present. Currently, a full-time artist working in the drawing mediums: pencil, ink, pastels, and colored pencil. Also, working in oil and acrylic paint. I like producing images of people in historical and current day themes.

Pickup & Shipping

All artworks sold will be shipped from the gallery after the show closes. Packages should go out no later than September 20, 2025. Visit here to learn more about shipping and handling as well as tax-exempt purchases.