Sharron Ahtone Harjo facts for kids

Marcelle Sharron Ahtone Harjo (born in 1945) is a talented Kiowa painter from Oklahoma. Her Kiowa name, Sain-Tah-Oodie, means "Killed With a Blunted Arrow." In the 1960s and 1970s, Sharron and her sister Virginia Stroud helped bring back a special art style called ledger art. This art tells stories using pictures drawn on paper or cloth, a style often used by Plains Indian artists.

About Sharron Ahtone Harjo

Sharron Ahtone Harjo's parents were Evelyn Tahome and Jacob Ahtone. Her father, Jacob, was the chairman of the Kiowa Tribe from 1978 to 1980. Sharron's grandfather, Samuel Ahtone, was also a ledger artist.

Her great-grandmother, Millie Durgan, was taken in by the Kiowas when she was a young girl. Millie became a part of the Kiowa community. She became famous for making cradleboards, which are special carriers for babies.

Education and Achievements

In 1963, Sharron Ahtone Harjo finished high school in Billings, Montana. She then studied art at Bacone College in Muskogee, Oklahoma, from 1963 to 1965. Her art teacher there was the Southern Cheyenne artist Dick West.

She earned her first degree from Bacone in 1965. Later, she earned another degree from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. In 1965, Sharron Ahtone Harjo was also chosen as Miss Indian America. This was a big honor.

Her Art Career

Sharron Ahtone Harjo creates paintings using different types of paint. These include acrylic, oil, gouache, and watercolor. When she first started, her art was inspired by rock art and Plains hide painting. Later, she began to focus on the ledger art style.

In the 1970s, Sharron started showing her artwork to the public. At that time, it was sometimes hard for women artists to get their work accepted. Because of this, she showed her art using the name Ahtone Harjo. She also taught art in schools.

Important Artworks

Sharron Ahtone Harjo believes her painting Kiowa Sun Dance is one of her most important works. To create this painting, she used original information like old calendars and ledger drawings. She also talked to people in her community.

This painting is one of the few historical records of the yearly Sun Dance ceremony. The entire tribe took part in this dance. The Kiowa Sun Dance has not been performed since 1887. Sharron worked on this painting for several years to make it just right.

Her Family Life

Sharron Ahtone Harjo mainly lives in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She also spends time in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She is from the Zoltone District 2 of the Kiowa tribal nation. Her sister, Deborah Ahtone, is also a Kiowa artist and writer.

Sharron is married to Amos Harjo, who is from the Seminole and Muscogee tribes. Their daughter, Tahnee Ahtoneharjo-Growingthunder, is also an artist. She creates beautiful beadwork and textile art. Tahnee is also a curator, meaning she helps organize art exhibits.

Where to See Her Art

Sharron Ahtone Harjo's artwork can be found in many public collections.

Her Art Works

• Return Them Safely to Home (1971)
• Woman on Red (1976)
• Kiowa Sun Dance (1981)
• One Daughter of the Earth (1985)
• Looking for Kiowas (1985)
• Last Will and Testament (2005)

Books She Has Published

• Hail, Barbara, Everett R. Rhoades, and Sharron Ahtone-Harjo. Gifts of Pride and Love: Kiowa and Comanche Cradles. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2001. ISBN: 978-080613604-2.
• Pearce, Richard, Sharron Ahtone-Harjo. Women and Ledger Art: Four Contemporary Native American Artists. University of Arizona Press, Jun 13, 2013 ISBN: 0816521042