Visual artist Joan Henrik has been profoundly inspired by the legends and stories that had their origins in native folklore. Native people come from an oral narrative tradition which has always been a sacred process, because it provided the people with social, cultural, and historical contexts. The oral narrative has acted as a social cohesive for the entire tribe and constitutes the cultural grounding of indigenous people for thousands of years.

Motivated by these stories, Henrik created fourteen animal icons for a terrazzo floor design now inlaid in the new Amsoil sports arena in...