Painted History: The Art of Cadzi Cody brochure

Western American Studies Program, Central Wyoming College

From brochure: "E astern Shoshone artist Codsiogo (Cod si-ogo/Cad-zei-go in the 1900 Wind River Agency census, but also known as Cadzi Cody, Katsakodi, Charlie Katsakodi) was born about 1866. His artwork was transitional because he adapted traditional materials and art forms familiar from prehistoric petroglyphs, pictographs and decorated leather goods, and modified these to the needs of the early reservation period which served as a bridge to modern Native American art. As a youth during the 1870s, Codsiogo certainly learned the skills of a hunter and warrior, and probably was expected to provide for and protect his family after reaching adulthood. But he also learned how to produce artistic and material goods for which white people would pay. Chief Washakie and his sons were renowned hide-painters and, like Codsiogo, produced their works for sale to collectors. Plains tribes had long histories of decorating leather goods with paint, beads, and quills. The styles were very ancient: for example, the images painted on Washakie’s tepee in the accompanying 1870 photo are similar to prehistoric rock art figures and symbols." Funding for this project was provided in part through a 2011 Historic Preservation Fund grant to the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office (project number WY-11-02, grant number 56-11-31957) administered by the State, Tribal, and Local Plans and Grants Division, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Painted History: The Art of Cadzi Cody brochure

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