Traditions

Location: Tsali Care Center – Cherokee, NC

Size: 10 feet-tall

Materials: Hand-painted metal

Date: 2024

Captured in the colors and shapes of this elegant sculpture, is the essence of nature. The colors represent the ever-changing seasons along the Blue Ridge Mountains, and life cycles with the change of the seasons. Among the leaves are shapes of the Black Bear, a symbol of a guide or as a spirit guide, an elder and an ally to the Cherokee people. Towards the top of the piece, the Thunderbird takes off in flight, representing power, protection, and strength.