Scratching the Surface — Fort Smith

Fort Smith was the last point of federal land before Indian Territory on the Trail of Tears, a passage used by Cherokee, Choctaw and other nations forced west. The inaugural edition of The Unexpected brought seven artists to the city from September 3-12, 2015. Drawn from early photographs, Vhils's Cherokee face is cut into a downtown wall, re-inscribing Indigenous presence at a departure point of forced removal.