South Dakota Arts Council

South Dakota Arts Council

Pierre, SD

The SDAC is a state government grantmaking agency supported by the State of South Dakota, through the Dept. of Tourism, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

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Good Warriors Watching by Donald F. Montileaux Image: “This piece shows the night guard of warriors appointed by the Elders to guard the camp from animals and other tribes who are looking for food or other bounty. Men and women were picked for this duty, to give protection and safe sleep to those in the camp. I draw warriors and their horses strong, aggressive, and full of life, unafraid, fearless, as if to say, ‘Today, if this is my last day, let it be my best day!’ ”
“This piece shows the night guard of warriors appointed by the Elders to guard the camp from animals and other tribes who are looking for food or other bounty. Men and women were picked for this duty, to give protection and safe sleep to those in the camp. I draw warriors and their horses strong, aggressive, and full of life, unafraid, fearless, as if to say, ‘Today, if this is my last day, let it be my best day!’ ”
  • Donald F. Montileaux
  • Good Warriors Watching, 2022
  • Colored pencil on historic ledger paper
  • Framed: 24 x 36 in (60.96 x 91.44 cm)
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Donald Montileaux studied under Oscar Howe and Herman Red Elk, a close friend and mentor. They gave Donald his Lakota name, Yellowbird (Zintkala Zi). He has achieved notoriety nationally and internationally as a master ledger artist. In addition to his work as an artist, he is also well known as an author/illustrator of children’s books. In 2014 he was inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame; in 2021 he was awarded the Western America Award for Lifetime Achievement by The Center for Western Studies, Augustana University, Sioux Falls, SD; in 2021 he received the Living Treasure Award of the Lakota Nation, presented at the Lakota Nation Invitational (LNI), in Rapid City, SD; and served several terms on the South Dakota Arts Council board until 2016.

Other Work From South Dakota Arts Council

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Moonlight in the Garden by Deborah Mitchell
Endurance by Teri McTighe
Too Close This Time by Donald F. Montileaux
Goldfinch and Silver Poplars by Mark W. McGinnis
Blue Birds and Buttressed Pine by Mark W. McGinnis
Ballad of the Badlands by John Lopez
Ghost Dance by Rebecca Mulvaney
Untitled (#110P) by Bob H. Miller
See all artwork from South Dakota Arts Council