George Curtis Levi, 2018
(Southern Cheyenne)
Greetings on a Fine Sunny Day in the Southern Plains, on 1917 Ledger ("Cheyenne Conversation")
Subject: Native American, Ledger Art
Prismacolor Pencils, 1917 Ledger
10 x 16 in., Framed: 11 x 17 in.
Archivally framed

This piece of art was included as an illustration in an article on Native American Ledger Art in the August, 2019 edition of Native Art Magazine. The article is titled 'Insubordination, Narration and History: Modern and Historical Ledger Art'. Quote from the artist George Curtis Levi, "My work is about my people, it's about who I am, where I come from. It's about a history that still lives on. The types of work that I do are Cheyenne style ledger drawings on historical paper, watercolors, acrylic paintings, parfleche/rawhide work, and Cheyenne beadwork. My work is currently in University Collections, Galleries, Museums, across the U.S. and the world."

Ledger art is an unique Native American artform which evolved during the Indian Wars in the 1800’s. While in the prison camps, the guards would give the Native American prisoners pencil and paper from discarded ledger books, for which to occupy their time. Most often, the Native American prisoners would draw images of battles and events from memories of their past. These images had previously been painted on medium such as buffalo hides, teepees and leggings, but after the buffalo herds neared extinction, the artform was transferred to paper. Initially created between 1860-1920, ledger art faded as an artform, but subsequently made a comeback in the 1960s. Thanks to a small number of traditionally dedicated Native Americans, ledger art is once again a flourishing and vibrant artform.

Good

11 x 17 in

8 lb