1-2 Introduction to Ledger Art

Overview

Goals

• Students will be able to identify what ledger art is.
• Students will be able to define symbolism and describe the symbolism in contemporary ledger art.

Content Standards

Prep

Teachers should complete the following preparation for the lesson:

• Prepare the Ledger Art video for student viewing. (Transcript)
• Prepare the John Isaiah Pepion: Native American Ledger Artist video for student viewing. (Transcript)
• Prepare the Indigenous Beauty: Terrance Guardipee video (0:00 – 2:46) for student viewing. (Transcript)
• Create student pairs.
• Make copies of Symbols in Contemporary Ledger Art.

Lesson Guide

Warm Up (5 minutes)

Think-Pair-Share

What are reservations, and how did they come to exist?
Did Native Americans live on reservations before Europeans came to this land? What leads you to your conclusion?

Ledger Art (30 mins)

Using the information provided below from the Historical Society of Montana, in your own words, explain the concept of ledger art to the class.

"The majority of what we most commonly perceive of as classic “ledger art”  
was produced during the second half of the nineteenth century, a time of  
great upheaval for Plains peoples. The tradition of portraying narrative  
scenes of heroic deeds continued to evolve as Indian artists transitioned  
from traditional Plains life to reservation living and embraced the use of  
paper, pens, pencils, inks, and watercolors. To create their drawings, these  
artists used whatever kind of paper was available to them: lined paper,  
foolscap, newsprint, books, or even old letters. However, the most readily  
obtainable paper throughout the 1800s was ledger paper—lined paper from  
account books. Eventually, the term “ledger art” was applied to the broader  
style of painting, whether or not the artist actually used ledger paper."  
(The Art of Storytelling: Plains Indian Perspectives).

Play Ledger Art | Smithsonian education (0:00 – 4:34) video for students.

Discussion

How does ledger art tell a story?  
Who is ledger art made for? And why is it made?

Tell students that although ledger art originated in the 1800’s, and used whatever materials were available on the reservations, individuals in Tribes continue to create ledger art to this day as an exploration of their culture, their community, and their identities in modern America.

"Contemporary Ledger Art Drawings are created by Native American artists  
from the late 1980s until today. These drawings are done on any surface  
that was previously used for a different purpose. The repurposed surface,  
medium, and subject reflect the life of today’s Native American, just as  
the Traditional Ledger art did the life of that era’s Native American  
artists." (J.W. Wiggins, 2020).

Play John Isaiah Pepion: Native American Ledger Artist video for students.

While in traditional ledger art, materials were used based on whatever was on the reservations, contemporary ledger art purposefully uses materials to make a statement.

Display several pieces of ledger art. Examples of ledger art from John Isaiah Pepion (Blackfeet Nation in northern Montana). Click Shop –> Original Artwork.

While showcase Pepion’s pieces, ask students what story they think is being told.

Lead a discussion with the students about what they think is depicted in the ledger art.

Think-Pair-Share

What helps you know that this ledger art was created now and not in the past?  
Why do you think artists still choose to tell stories using the ledger art style?

Symbolism in Contemporary Ledger Art (15 minutes)

Pair students and pass out Symbols in Contemporary Ledger Art to each student.

Tell students that they will watch a video about a particular piece of ledger art and will describe the symbolism represented by the artist. Explain that symbolism is a way to use images to convey ideas and qualities. The symbolism in this piece tells the artist’s story.

Play Indigenous Beauty: Terrance Guardipee video (0:00 – 2:46). As students watch the video, they should write what each symbol represents on the Symbols in Contemporary Art handout.

Key

After the video, if students need to re-watch because they missed something, replay the video.

Pairs of students share to the class what each symbol represents.

In a later lesson, students will work in reverse. Based on stories they tell, they will develop symbols. This activity is important for laying the groundwork for their own art.

Homework

Students fill out the question at the bottom of the handout:

How do all these symbols work together to tell Terrence Guardipee’s story?

Vocabulary

The following are terms used in this lesson.