Artwork in the newly expanded terminal lobby at Charlotte Douglas International Airport honors Catawba Nation, the Native Americans who have lived in the Carolinas for thousands of years.
The piece is called Catawba Ways, and it greets travelers above the Ticketing level on the east skybridge. Combining form and function, the art is part of the terrazzo flooring.
Artist Janelle Stanley, who is Native American herself, studied Catawba history and spoke with tribal leaders before designing the project.
“The Catawba River ties this community together,” Stanley said. “I want people to know the importance of it.”
People of the River
The Catawbas call themselves yeh is-WAH h’reh, which means people of the river. For at least 6,000 years they made their homes on the banks of the Catawba River.
The 225 mile-long river runs from the Blue Ridge Mountains in western North Carolina, through Charlotte and down into South Carolina. It is represented in the terrazzo the way it looks on a map.
“I thought the topography pattern I used was important. I wanted to keep it very organic, representing the river in the direction of flow,” Stanley said.
Catawba Pottery
The river design surrounds images of pottery. Crafting pots of various shapes and sizes is the Catawbas’ oldest tradition. People still make bowls and jugs out of clay dug up from the riverbanks, using the same methods they have for generations.
In the outer ring there are four Chief Hagler pots, which have matching carved heads on either side. This style of pottery is named for an 18th century tribal leader who was known for cultivating relationships with the English settlers.
“He is the only person we continue to represent in our pottery because of his ability to be a good diplomat for our people,” said DeLesslin “Roo” George-Warren, one of the five elected leaders for Catawba Nation.
Sense of Symmetry
Taking a wider view of the art, you’ll notice a sense of symmetry and the numbers four and seven repeatedly represented. That was the first thing Monty Branham noticed when he saw Catawba Ways. Branham is an artist and spiritual leader in the Catawba Nation.
“There are certain numbers that are tied to our community,” Branham said. “The four directions have ties to the medicine wheel, the four components of life (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual), it also has ties to the four elements (earth, water, air, fire).”
Branham also observed seven leaves on each crop represented in the design. Seven is a significant number to the Catawbas, because of the seven spheres of prayer.
“We pray to each direction, our ancestors, Mother Earth and the creator,” Branham said.
Spiritual Significance
Branham appreciates the beauty and accuracy with which Stanley reflected the Catawba Nation in the art. He hopes visitors learn a little something about his community.
“This was once our territory, so there is a spiritual significance to having this here. There are people in our area who don’t know our people exist. This is a good representation of who the people of the river are,” Branham said.
In this video, Janelle Stanley talks about her art as Branham performs a spiritual song and dance before Catawba Ways opened to the public.
To learn more about the Catawba Nation, visit the Catawba Cultural Center website. There, you can read more about the tribe’s history and shop for pottery, jewelry and art.
