Native women focus of Chickasaw’s ledger art

This article appeared in the August 2018 edition of the Chickasaw Times

KINGSTON, Okla. – Dustin Mater has entered the challenging genre of “ledger art.”

Having scored an August 1881 page from a business ledger, Mr. Mater started painting strong dynamic women in a series of portraits.

At a Chickasaw Nation gathering the renowned Chickasaw artist began penciling the outline of "Corn Woman and her Blessing,” visiting with inspiring artists and Chickasaw citizens about his work.

“The painting is based on the Choctaw legend of Corn Woman as told to me by the late, great Choctaw storyteller Greg Rodgers,” Mr. Mater explained. “A story of selfless sacrifice and blessings, she sits upon a mound near a river holding an arrow with the sacrificial hawk and in her right hand is the Tanchi (corn), the blessing.

“She is painted in watercolors and gold leafing on top of original Indian Territory ledger from 1881,” he added.

In fact, Mr. Mater has painted many dynamic Native women – real and legend -- on old ledgers from Indian Territory to early Oklahoma statehood. He recently published a brochure featuring the ledger art. More than a dozen ledger paintings are featured.

Called “Messengers: Watercolors, Gold Leaf and Ledger,” Mr. Mater is sending examples of his work to museums and to patrons.

One portrait features world famous Native ballerina Marie Tallchief.

Portraits based on Native folklore include “Hatchet Woman” and “The Seven Sisters” each named for a beautiful songbird.

“The combination of ledger, watercolors and gold leaf invokes stories of the heroic struggles and triumphs of indigenous women. I believe the Creator dwells in all of us and in these paintings the gold leaf invokes the divinity in each of these heroines,” Mr. Mater said.

He also is using antique maps from Indian Territory as his “canvas.”

Dustin “Illetewahke” Mater is an award-winning multimedia artist and designer. He was one of the first southeastern tribal members whose design was accepted by Pendleton Blankets’ Legendary Collection.

A conch shell carving is among the artworks in the permanent collection at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. Mr. Mater has additional artistic works in Paris, France; Edinburgh, Scotland; The U.S. National Park Service and many fine art galleries.

Mr. Mater recently was commissioned for a three-panel painting by the Chickasaw Legislature. It is displayed in the official meeting room along with a three-panel work from fellow artist Brent Greenwood.

To see Mr. Mater’s ledger artwork, learn about his podcast and see information concerning upcoming shows and festivals, visit his website at www.dustign.com.