The Singing River Trail in North Alabama will connect communities in three counties and serve as an approximately 70-mile active transportation corridor linking to other trail systems throughout the region.
The client committee wanted their logo to feature Native people’s presence in the region, and to celebrate their historic connection with the river. As outsiders, both to the region and to Native American culture, we knew we wanted to work with a local artist to bring the committee’s vision to life.
Shannon Keith (now with City of Decatur) connected us with Paula Nelson, an extraordinary artist who is an Eastern Band Cherokee citizen. Paula’s career spans decades of studying iconography across tribal lines and time periods including pre-and post-contact Native American symbology.
Paula contributed sketches of Te-lah-nay, a figure in Yuchi Indian tribe legend who is associated with the Tennessee (or “Singing”) River. Paula incorporated an ancient iconic symbol of “water as medicine”, which she has tattooed on her wrist, into each drawing.
With Paula’s consent, we stripped away the more figurative elements, and developed a logo concept around the “water as medicine” symbol. We thought it would make a strong logo because it works on several levels: it’s recognizable as water to a general audience; it has a specific, place-based significance and can help tell the story of the Singing River; and it is a beautiful abstract design in its own right.
The fact that the symbol incorporates the idea of medicine is especially appropriate for the trail, which is intended to encourage physical, mental, and spiritual wellness in the North Alabama region.
The logo has now been incorporated into the project report, Economic Benefits brochure (see below), and wayfinding for the trail.
Interested in learning more about the design process for trails and greenways? Contact Cat Cheng, Alta’s Art Director.
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