“Heaven’s Gate”Seeking

Closure on Trail of Tears

Created for the Indians’ ghosts of the Trail of Tears who did not have a proper burial.

Art and sculptor exhibit at 7395 Old Hickory Blvd, White Creeks TN.

My conclusion is that there will never be a closure for the Indians whose ancestors were forced to make this journey. We’ll just think

of it less in time.

Painting is 4.5’ x 10.5’

After moving to Nashville and seeing the highway marker, “Historic route of the Trail of Tears”, I realized for the first time, I was living in the land where our ancestors last ran free and civilized. Living with

this knowledge 24 – 7 inspired the following artistic

expressions.Acrylic on Canvas

35”x35”

The Evolution of an Indian ArtistAcrylic on Canvas

35” x35”

The glitter expressing the birth of the casinos and with that the dream of being free and civilized reopened. “Seeking closure” is written in gold lettering. I had a feeling of depression living so close to our past that I could only think of a way

to seek closure.

“Seeking Closure”Acrylic on Canvas

14” x11 ½”

“Blue Moon”

[private collectionChris Conte)

Acrylic on Canvas16”x11”]

• The spirits which are Injected into the painting are those of the ancestors who made the move West because this land belonged to them and always will. The use of spirits makes the composition an expression of my imagination and the landscape an impression of my actual visualization.

Wagons go

Wagons Go West (blue)

Acrylic on Cannas16”x14”

• With my mind involved in expressing my feelings of the past, I thought of artists who create repetitive signature pieces. These are my interpretations of the abstractions reversed-- so as to not be repetitive yet to remain the same.

“Wagon Go West

(red)Acrylic on Canvas

16” x14”

• You know what I mean!

“Gold,” “Gold,” “Gold”

Acrylic on canvas

• “Gold, Gold,” they hollered. “It’s On Indian Land,” they whispered. “He’s Got TO GO,” they voted.

• This painting relates to the land prior to the forced migrations when gold was discovered on Indian land.

23.5” x 23.5”

“Cherokee Rose”

Acrylic on Canvas12” x 12”

For those who are aware of the origin of the Cherokee rose, this painting should really be an inspiring

composition.The legend tells when one was buried along the Trail of

Tears a Cherokee rose bush grew on the site.

(writing on)Trail of Tears 2007

Living with an icon of our race running through the front yard always expecting ghost or spirits coming face to face.

One pulled my foot the other night and whispered everything was alright .One appeared to smile in the studio but he was from the other side of the I-35 rainbow.

Sitting on the front porch watching a blue moon Watching a fog creep from the creek to the house.

Driving down Old Hickory Boulevard In my truck

Hitting golf balls across the creek Into the south forty

Doing water colors of the little up creek bridge

Watching ducklings swim up creek in Judy’s creek

Riding Smokey mosquito to the top of Boner Mountain

Strolling down the old short cut trail towards Nashville

Knowing I am close to home when I see the three radio towers

Knowing there will never be a end Of this trail

I find peace knowing I am in the Land of our Ancestors.

Where they last ran Free and civilized.

•Within a year I was living on land where the original Northern route of the Trail of Tears ran through our front yard. I expected to see spirits of our ancestors running all over the place, but none ever appeared. It was then that I learned of the Blue bone pickers

“Choctaw”Acrylic on Canvas

35”x 35”

Old Hickory Blvd, Whites Creek, TN. From Nashville, The Trail of Tears goes to Whites Creek, turns right, goes to Bear Hollow, turns left then heads to points North and West. Living on this site

has inspired a rollercoaster of my imagination.

“Old Hickory

Trail”Acrylic on Canvas

21” x 11 ¾”

“Analyze This”

Acrylic on Canvas21” x 11 ¾”

A composition from the Pacific by way of the Philippines, Japan and Okinawa, and then to Europe by way of Germany, I am always an

Indian artist at heart regardless of where I might be.

There are documentations of things happening to them, but nothing about any questions they may have had. I am inadequate to speculate

on any things of that nature.

“Lighten bugs/

Blue Moon”

Acrylic on Canvas

15” x 10”

On May 31 07 there was a Blue Moon. .While sitting on the front porch and watching the night, the lightning bugs seem to be more noticeably active than usual. While gathering information about the scope of individuals involved in the removal, I was overwhelmed by the numbers. One thing that escaped my investigation was any

information of what the Indians were thinking during this time.

“Fireflies Along

the Trail”Acrylic on Canvas

14” x 7 ½”

“Seeking Closure From Trail of Tears”

Sponsored by the Native American Indian

Association was on exhibit at the Tennessee

Legislative Building In February and March of

2008

The following pictures is Ron getting the exhibit

ready for display.