After the whirlwind excitement of having my ledger book displayed at the Museum of Jersey City History, I couldn't wait to get it back home.
Finally, I was able to add new paintings to its pages, I truly missed the process. This ledger is a colossal leather-bound tome, dating back to 1840, likely filled with entries about ward tax collections. Every painting of a Jersey City building I create eventually finds its place within these historical pages—sometimes as studies, sometimes as afterthoughts, and sometimes as simultaneous creations.
You see, I've always had a bit of an obsession with ledgers (don't judge me, LOL). Maybe it's my love for old paper and anything with ink on it that can be incorporated into my artwork. Or maybe it's the nostalgia from my days as a paralegal in Germany, knee-deep in the intricacies of accounting—those endless black ledgers and the joy of finding that elusive missing penny. Ah, the memories... Anyone else remember those times? In Germany, we even call them "American Journals" for some reason.
Anyway, back to the present. The ledger I'm working in for the past 4 years and probably for the next 20 years seems to be as mentioned related to tax collection in a ward, although I'm not entirely certain. It feels fitting for this endeavor of adding one building at a time, each one meticulously researched and painted, creating a sort of catalog of my works and a visual stroll through the hood.
Let's talk about ledger art. I’ve had to reframe how I refer to my work. Initially, I called it "ledger art," but I've come to realize that this term specifically refers to a traditional form of Native American art that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries among Native peoples, particularly in Plains Indian tribes. It involved drawing or painting on paper, often using ledger or account book pages as the canvas. It is really interesting- check out this short video of a modern ledger art artist and what he tells about the history.
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The significance of ledger art within Native American communities is profound. It served as a means for Native American artists to document their experiences, tribal customs, and historical events during a time of immense change and upheaval. The art form carries with it a cultural and historical weight that I've come to respect deeply.
So, I've shifted my terminology. Instead of "ledger art," I now refer to my project as my ledger project. It's a way for me to honor and pay homage to the origins of this art form while also exploring my own creative journey.
On a recent visit to the Edward Hopper exhibition at the Whitney Museum, I may have let out an inappropriate squeak of excitement when I saw a ruled ledger book used as a catalogue for his artwork. I couldn't help but linger at that display case, soaking in the inspiration. Dang it Edward …way ahead of me, aren’t you? Well anyway LOL.
Some friends and former students have asked me about prints of my ledger pages, and it's something I'm considering—perhaps a future project with my camera and lighting setup, as scanning just won't work with the book. So we shall see. But if you want to see more of the pages right now- check out my art gallery here.
Just a heads up, with my next post I will share a draft from my book, "If These Walls Could Talk," a nonfiction historical novel delving into the memories of a house through different eras in Jersey City. This post is exclusively for my supporting subscribers, who receive six additional posts a year diving deeper into my writing and creative process. If you want to join me there and support my book writing endeavors - amazing! If not, no worries. Stay as a free subscriber —I love to share more stories of old buildings and paintings. Thank you for exploring art, history, and nostalgia through the pages of time with me!
Nat
Oh wow! I had never seen or heard of Native American ledger art before. Thanks for sharing that, Nat!
Oh my goodness! Reading this was so inspirational as well as exciting, Nat. I not only enjoy your work, and the passion that you show for it, but I also enjoy how much you contribute to the community at large. Here's to you!!