June 7 – August 31, 2024
Alaina, a senior member of the So’taa’ee band of the Northern Cheyenne Nation and a nationally-renowned artist shares her unique perspective through ledger art and canvas.
“Ledger art began as an outlet for Cheyenne and Kiowa warriors who were jailed in the barracks of Ft. Marion, Florida, in the mid-1800s. Early ledger art was drawn and painted on paper or cloth; however, as it evolved, the interest led to dated accounting sheets and sheet music.
Learning this grabbed my interest and imagination. Those early ledger pieces spoke to me; the beautiful images drawn by our warriors were intriguing, and I was totally captured. As I learned more, I found out that there were also a handful of women ledger artists. I questioned, “What were the women doing during this time?” Thus, I began drawing and painting images of women in order to honor the ones who made a huge impact on my life, such as my mother, grandmother, and a favorite auntie.”
