Edition: 6
$2300.00
Following the end of the Civil War in 1865, massive westward movement of settlers, commercial and railroad speculators along with the U.S. Government into the Great Plains, forced various Native American tribes to be confined to smaller territories through various treaties of agreement. By 1875, the Sioux and Cheyenne refused to give up any more of their sacred lands to the continued and increasing encroachments. In the Great Sioux War of 1876, the Sioux and Cheyenne battled the Government to hold onto the their lands in Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota.
In June of 1876, the Lakota and the Cheyenne held their Sun Dance gathering in Montana for a time of prayer and personal sacrifice for the community, as well as for making personal resolutions. Sitting Bull (Tȟatȟáŋka Íyotake), the spiritual leader of the Hunkpapa Lakota, reportedly had a vision of "soldiers falling into his camp like grasshoppers from the sky."
Weeks later, on June 25, 1876, Lakota tribes with the Northern Cheyenne realized Sitting Bull's vision, defeating 7th U.S. Cavalry under Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer and his battalion in the Battle of the Greasy Grass, more commonly known as the Battle of the Little Bighorn, ("Custer's Last Stand"), in Montana. Soon after the devastating defeat, the U.S. Government stepped up military operations considerably, and within the year, the Lakota and Cheyenne had surrendered and were forced to give up lands and return to the reservations.
In June of 1876, the Lakota and the Cheyenne held their Sun Dance gathering in Montana for a time of prayer and personal sacrifice for the community, as well as for making personal resolutions. Sitting Bull (Tȟatȟáŋka Íyotake), the spiritual leader of the Hunkpapa Lakota, reportedly had a vision of "soldiers falling into his camp like grasshoppers from the sky."
Weeks later, on June 25, 1876, Lakota tribes with the Northern Cheyenne realized Sitting Bull's vision, defeating 7th U.S. Cavalry under Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer and his battalion in the Battle of the Greasy Grass, more commonly known as the Battle of the Little Bighorn, ("Custer's Last Stand"), in Montana. Soon after the devastating defeat, the U.S. Government stepped up military operations considerably, and within the year, the Lakota and Cheyenne had surrendered and were forced to give up lands and return to the reservations.
Ten days later, on the morning of December 29, 1890, near Wounded Knee Creek on the Lakota Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment surrounded and entered an encampment of the Lakota. In an attempt to disarm the tribe, a scuffle broke out and indiscriminate gunfire erupted, resulting in the massacre of at least 90 Lakota warriors and approximately 200 women and children along with another 51 Lakota wounded. Thirty-one soldiers of the 7th Cavalry also died, and 39 were wounded.
It Was A Beautiful Dream reflects on the Native American experience the history of the Battle of Little Big Horn (Cutster's Last Stand) in Montana and the Massacre at Wounded Knee in South Dakota.
7 archival pigment prints on Canson Prestige II
6 text sheets on Canson Rag Photographique
2 archival pigment prints on Mylar
Summary statement, map and colophon on Canson Rag Photographique
Chiyogami silkscreened paper covered book binders board with four-flap archival folder
6 text sheets on Canson Rag Photographique
2 archival pigment prints on Mylar
Summary statement, map and colophon on Canson Rag Photographique
Chiyogami silkscreened paper covered book binders board with four-flap archival folder
14-3/8 x 11-3/8 x 7/8 inches
COLLECTIONS
Carleton College, Gould Library Special Collections, Northfield, Minnesota
Colorado College, Charles L. Tutt Library Special Collections, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Carleton College, Gould Library Special Collections, Northfield, Minnesota
Colorado College, Charles L. Tutt Library Special Collections, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library Special Collections, Logan, Utah
Private Collection (New York)
Private Collection (New York)