THREE SISTERS ART CHALLENGE: The Challenge Questions

Prompts, Ideas, Inspirations and Challenge Questions
The Three Sisters Art Challenge is an art show and sale opportunity for residents of Virginia and its
surrounding region: West Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland, Washington D.C., Tennessee and North Carolina.

The Challenge

• Depict the relationship between corn, beans and squash which derives the name Three Sisters given by America’s Indigenous.
• Why are the Native American Three Sisters called the Three Sisters and not the three mothers or three brothers?
• What makes them mutually supportive and energetically productive?
  
• What is the Spirit of these plants working together?
  
• Is it because they grow up together, with an older, middle and younger sister?
  
• It is the idea of one reaching upward standing like a soldier lonely without the next one stretching out to protect and the third one shading from below helping quench the thirst by protecting the shallow roots?
  
• Or is it about how these three vegetables provide every one of the essential amino acids our bodies need for complete nutrition making the Three Sisters complete?
  
• Is it about girls sharing secrets?
  
• Is it about a relationship that sisters have that others do not have?
  
• The artwork can reflect the spirit involved in growing and harvesting or being nourished by these crops including giving thanks and being connected to the earth and all humanity.
  
• How would you depict the Three Sisters?

Register

Artwork is selected for the gallery-showing based on artistic quality, uniqueness and on how imaginative the work captures the spirit of the Three Sisters legacy; it does not have to literally depict the plants.

Three Sisters (Unknown Artist)

This an example of Three Sisters by Palma il Vecchio Italian Artist 1480-1528. How do you depict Three Sisters?

A panel of artists will select the artwork from digital images of the actual artwork. Artwork is selected for the gallery-showing based on artistic quality, uniqueness and on how imaginative the work captures the spirit of the Three Sisters legacy; it does not have to literally depict the plants.
    All artwork must be original and created by the artist. Space is limited and applications must be complete in order to participate.
    Due to volume of art work being considered, over-sized items, performing arts, electronic media, literature, jewelry and “craftsy” items are not included in this art challenge.

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