Red Clay in spotlight

CLEVELAND, Tenn. — Red Clay is getting a lot of looks this spring.

A public television documentary on the Trail of Tears will include a segment shot at the historic park, located at the site of the last council grounds of the united Cherokee nation.

The park is the inspiration for a newly formed Friends of Red Clay group and is a draw for North Georgia and Southeast Tennessee artists who come to the tranquil site for inspiration.

Artist B.J. Wright, of Tunnel Hill, Ga., set up her easel last week in front of the park’s replica of the Cherokee open-air meeting house. On her easel was a painting she created last July. Ms. Wright said she came back to make some revisions in the soft spring morning light.

She is a member of the Civic Arts League in Chattanooga and the Art Alliance of North Georgia.

“We like to get out and just capture the changing of the seasons,” she said.

The group is preparing a Tunnel Hill art show, Ms. Wright said, called “A Brush with History.”

Red Clay State Historic Area has its own attractions, she said.

“I do love the quiet, the peace. But to know the Cherokees were here ...,” she said. “And who knows what will be here in the future?”

Later in the morning she was joined by Sandra Babb, of Ringgold, Ga., and Jo Thomas, of Ooltewah, art director for of Red Clay group were working in the headquarters office and museum.

Their current project is stenciling a wall decoration based on a traditional basket pattern. They said it’s called the “Chieftain’s Daughter” pattern.

“We think it’s a beautiful pattern and that it is culturally significant,” Ms. Kubin said.

“Cherokee women do excellent work in basketry. They still do today, and really have an emphasis on teaching the younger generation,” she said.

Friends of Red Clay has applied for tax exempt status. Once that comes through, the group can begin to raise money for park projects, supporters said.

In the meantime, members are doing projects such as the pattern stenciling. Two weekends ago the group planted chestnut trees in the park, symbolizing the seven clans of the Cherokee.

“We would like to know more. We have this family tradition that our heritage includes Cherokee,” Ms. Kubin said. She came to one of the annual Cherokee Days of Recognition and learned about the formation of the friends group.

The Friends of Red Clay has organized a schedule of meetings and activities. One meeting included programs from representatives from Friends of Moccasin Bend.

The Red Clay group also is planning a picnic this month and hopes members of the public will come and join, Ms. Kubin said.

This week, some experts in shake roofing will be here to replace aging wooden shingle roofs on some of the park’s replica buildings.

Park Director Carol Crabtree said Boston public television state WGBH will be in the park next month to film a segment for a documentary “The American Experience,” concerning the Trail of Tears.

WGBH crews also will film at New Echota, the tribe’s Georgia capital before it moved to Tennessee, and at the Chief Vann House in Chatsworth, Ga., homeplace of one of a wealthy Cherokee leader at the start of the 19th century.

E-mail Randall Higgins at

rhiggins@timesfreepress.com

FRIENDS OF RED CLAY EVENTS

May 13: Meeting and potluck dinner at 6:30 p.m. at the large pavilion

May 16: Picnic supper and family gathering at the council house

May 14, 16, 31: Park work days

June 10: Monthly meeting, 6:30 p.m.

June 20: Fireside storytelling in the park, 6:30 p.m.

June 18, 25, 28: Work days and docent training

Source: Friends of Red Clay State Park Note: Also ran in the Metro and North Georgia editions.