Log Marker 1939

Here we have "Log Marker" by Frank Volem, created in 1939 using graphite and watercolor on paper. Volem, of Klamath heritage, presents us with a seemingly simple object, yet it carries profound cultural weight. This log marker wasn't just a tool; it was a signature, an assertion of identity and ownership deeply tied to the Indigenous relationship with the land and its resources. Consider the historical context: in the 1930s, Native communities were navigating federal policies that often sought to undermine tribal sovereignty and traditional ways of life. This depiction of the log marker becomes an act of cultural preservation. The artist is highlighting the endurance of Indigenous practices. In rendering this tool with care, Volem honors the labor, knowledge, and connection to the natural world embodied within it. It quietly speaks volumes about resilience, resistance, and the assertion of Indigenous presence in a changing world.