The Tunica-Biloxi Grand Casino

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I was contracted to create an invitation for the opening of the Tunica-Biloxi Grand Casino. The Tunica-Biloxi tribe is one of four federally recognized Native American groups in the state of Louisiana. Their reservation is located just south of Marksville in east-central Louisiana.

 

It's key to know that the "Tunica Treasure," as it is called, is one of the largest archeological collections of 18th-century Native American relics ever discovered. Artifacts deposited as grave goods by the Tunicas in the seventeenth century are on display in the tribal museum. Pottery from this collection often features the symbolic "Tunica mode" or "corn row" pattern. Ancient legend says the native people emerged from a hole in the ground guarded by two alligators. One was red and brought summer. The other was blue and brought winter. 

 

Anthropology inspired my concept for the invitation. I designed a "coin" to reference the casino. Centered are fabled alligator in yen/yang arrangement. I commissioned local ceramic artist Barbara Donavan to create clay "coins" and stamp them with the design. These went into vip invitations with shadowed "corn row" imagery. The invites were highly sought after.

 

Today, the casino is known as the Paragon Casino Resort and is the largest employer in the parish.