About the artist
Catelyn, known as Adadolisdi is 6 years old and in the first grade. She picked up her grandmother’s camera when she was 3 years old and began taking pictures even if the lens was bigger than her. Her Grandmother started teaching Catelyn and her brother the Cherokee Language as soon as they were able to speak. When her personality became evident, her Grandmother named her Adadolisdi, which means “Grace” in English. Cateyn’s next challenge is to learn to write the Cherokee Language at the same time she learns to write English.
About the Photograph Titled “Wesa”
Catelyn won 2nd Place in the Youth Category, competing against all kinds of mediums, at the Cherokee National Holiday Art Show on Labor Day Weekend of 2011.
Wesa, meaning “Cat”, is also the name that Catelyn chose to name her cat when her family adopted Wesa and his brother, Speedy. On the easel, Catelyn wrote "wesa" (pronounced way-suh) in Cherokee Phoenetics and below that she wrote the Cherokee letters (Cherokee Alphabet) to spell Cat in the Cherokee Language. Wesa is a really good sport for posing for Catelyn.
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About the artist
Cathy is a photographer with a special emphasis on promoting current and positive imagery of Native Americans. In 2008, sisters, Cathy Thompson and Marcy Scott formed “7 Starz Studio”. A large component of 7 Starz Studio is dedicated to the promotion of native people, cultures and languages in a positive and respectful manner. In doing so we were always being mindful of what our ancestors have taught us;
“Look after one another and all, love one another, protect yourselves, love yourself, respect everybody.”
About the photograph titled “Traditional Sticks”
“Traditional Sticks” are used playing Anejodi, or Stickball. Stickball is a very rough game played by not only the Cherokee, but many other Southeastern Woodland tribes including the Muscogee (Creek), Seminole, and others. The ball sticks are handmade from hickory. A small ball, made of deer hair and hide, is tossed into the air by the medicine man and the game begins. This photo shows the break of daylight and the smoke from the fire encircling the sticks and trees. The “Traditional Sticks”, adorned with the ballplayers clothing, are waiting to be retrieved and make their way into the age old game. "Traditional Sticks" won 2nd Place in the Photography Category at the Cherokee National Holiday Art Show, held in Tahlequah, OK. on Labor Day Weekend 2011.
About the photograph titled “Sky Diamonds”
Taken at the Cherokee Holiday 2010
"Sky Diamonds" won 1st Place in the Photography Category at the Cherokee National Holiday Art Show, held in Tahlequah, OK. on Labor Day Weekend 2011.
