By Carrie Bradshaw-Buckley, Media Relations Specialist
Chickasaw Nation Media Relations Office

Five aspiring Chickasaw artists will be marketing artist cards at the Chickasaw Nation Annual Meeting and Festival Oct. 3, 2009.

Micah Hart, Addison Manning, Mercedes Milligan, Skylar Nucose and Ryan Rico created the cards as a product of the marketing and design class sponsored by the Chickasaw Nation Division of Arts and Humanities.

The eight-week course, led by Graphic Arts and Design Coordinator Rachel Westmoreland, was intended to give the young artists the skills that they will need in developing and marketing their own artwork in the future. 

"It is very important for these young artists to gain valuable knowledge on the process in which they market and share their talent," said Lona Barrick, division administrator.

Meeting once a week, the students acquired hands-on experience in every level of the design and marketing process of their artwork, including conception, creation, promotion and distribution.

These cards will be released and available for sale at the Southeastern Art Show and Market (SEASAM) tent which will be located on the Chickasaw Capitol grounds from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Each box costs $10 and contains 5 cards, featuring photographs of original artwork created by the students.

For more information, contact the Division of Arts and Humanities at (580) 272-5520 or email rwestmoreland@mac.com.