The Catawba tribe’s pottery tradition is more than an inherited art form; it is central to shaping the Catawba’s cultural identity. Most of us have a skill, belief or tradition that was passed down by a family member or close relation. This transfer of culture may date back hundreds or thousands of years as it forwards the ideas of our ancestors to present and future generations. For the Catawba, pottery is communication with a sacred voice from the past, and preserving the tradition is essential to preserving their culture. In the following videos we meet Billie Anne McKellar, a master of the art form and a mentor to the next generation of Catawba potters.
Video
Catawba pottery is recognized as one of the oldest and purest traditional art forms in America. Potters such as Billie Anne McKellar, a fourth generation potter, are often ancestors of a long line of...
Video
The natural world pervades nearly every aspect of the Catawba pottery tradition. Nature-inspired motifs include the turtle, frog, black snake, snail, feather and palm leaf, and are often connected to...
Video
Billie Anne McKellar demonstrates prepping the clay.
Video
Billie Anne McKellar demonstrates the process of kneading.
Video
"Green" pots are those that have dried naturally by sun and air circulation, but have yet to be fired. A sunny, windless day is the ideal setting for the day of a firing. Before firing, green pots are...
Video
Many traditional Catawba pot designs are based on a basic "cooking pot" style, dating back to the Woodland period (1000 BCE - 1000 CE) of North American pre-Columbian culture. Widespread use and trade...
Video
Maintaining Catawba tradition involves passing down family histories, belief systems, language, folklore, the arts and other aspects of cultural heritage. The Catawba Cultural Preservation Project...
Video
Artifacts are manmade objects, sometimes referred to as material remains, that are recovered during the excavation process. Pot shards, intact pots, rubbing stones and arrowheads are examples of...
Video
The bean pot is a traditional form that resurfaced in the Catawba potter’s repertoire in the early 1990s. Master potters used an image from an anthropological record of the early 1900s to guide their...