Frank Sheridan Sr., Cheyenne/Arapaho,
began as an artist 35 years ago when he took some mismatched,
multi-colored beads to his mother and asked her to teach him
how to bead. He has continued that practice through today.
For 29 years he has worked
in the federal service and is now employed with IHS as a community
intervention specialist. He uses his artistic gift within his
professional work to help people heal. Like all health care-givers
he has a compassion for people and is willing to share.
''I share whatever a person
needs from me. I let them take as much as they need. I try to
be there for them ... I try to take them to a place of healing,''
Sheridan said.
Frank has also mentored and
inspired many other award-winning Native artists.
"Frank embodies all that
is positive, giving, and culturally rich about the Southern Cheyenne
community. I believe for Frank, his manner of giving, educating,
and communicating through his art is a way of life for him.”
- Teri Greeves
Frank has received commissions
for the Southwest Native American Conference, The National Cowboy
Hall of Fame, the University of Oklahoma Press, and others.
Sheridan's handiwork and his
ledger-style artwork are prized collectors' items. An active
member of the Cheyenne traditional community, Sheridan is a ceremonial
painter and yearly participant in the Southern Cheyenne renewal
ceremonies - or Sun Dance.
Frank is a distinguished scholar,
having earned his BA, MAT, and MBA, and has lectured for the
Association of American Indian Physicians on “Spiritually
Based Alternative Therapies.” He spoke of his tribe and
why they do the things they do. He shared his views on the importance
of tradition to the tribe.
Frank was also awarded the
coveted First People's Fund Award in 2005, among many others
in a variety of fields and interests.
A fine award winning piece
of Cheyenne utilitarian art, this beautifully designed and expertly
fabricated horse mask exemplifies the best of contemporary Cheyenne
material culture.
Materials used are:
Buckskin, seed beads, brass
spots, brass thimble, brass bells, steel bells, feathers, buffralo
horn (split), serrated deer dew claws, horse hair, red dyed horse
hair tassels, rawhide hand cutouts, rawhide buffalo track cutouts,
tobacco ties, 37 military jacket buttons with eagles, 3 contemporary
brass combat action stars, red cloth ties, red cloth backing,
4 braided buckskin straps on each side, two decorated side panels,
1 decorated botton panel.
This type of mask is rare
and was meant to be a battle component of a Cheyenne warrior,
all materials on the mask are symbolic.
