Artist Reception: John Isaiah Pepion "Here Come the Blackfeet"

John Isaiah Pepion is an acclaimed ledger artist from the Piikani Band of the Blackfoot Confederacy. His new body of work illuminates both war and peace, telling the story of the Blackfeet people as a whole community. Here Come the Blackfeet is a celebration of the indigenous peoples of the area and a reminder that this is their home—and has been for 18,000 years. Much of Montana, southern Canada, and Idaho is Blackfeet territory, also shared with other tribes including the Salish, Kootenai, Pend d'Orielle, and Nez Perce.

Ledger art is a tradition that developed in Plains tribes as the buffalo hide they used for painting became scarce. Book pages, maps, and ledger books became the canvases for images of tribal life. Traditional implements gave way to colored pencils, crayon, ink pens, and watercolors. John Isaiah Pepion comes from a family of artists who have practiced ledger art for hundreds of years.

Join us for an artist reception celebrating the opening of Here Come the Blackfeet in conjunction with Whitefish Gallery Nights on Thursday, July 3rd from 5-8pm for refreshments and an evening with the artist!