Books Not Returned Library
Brigit Johnson is a Northern Cheyenne painter, sculptor, fashion designer, and mother of three daughters based in Placerville, California.
Artist BioJordan Ann Craig is a Northern Cheyenne artist who creates geometric abstract paintings, prints and artist books.
Artist BioJordan Ann Craig and Brigit Johnson
Brigit Johnson is a Northern Cheyenne mother and artist based in Placerville, California. Her daughter Jordan Ann Craig is a painter, designer, photographer and book artist. Together, they collaborate to spread awareness for the missing and murdered Indigenous women epidemic.
Artist BioWe are approaching 37 years missing our Amy. Amy was Salish Kootenai, and Brigit’s sister. She loved art; she loved her young kids. The grief and pain of losing Amy continues to be an open wound. Native women are disappearing at incredibly high rates. This is an epidemic that has largely gone unnoticed until recently. Statistics show 4 in 5 Native women have experienced violence in their lifetime. Native women face murder rates ten times the national average, a chilling statistic. In 2016, the National Crime Information Center reported there were 5,712 reports of missing American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls. How do we visualize this data respectfully and effectively? How do we give these missing and murdered Indigenous women their stories back? Books Not Returned Library is a collection of handmade books in which each book tells a story of a missing or murdered Indigenous woman, girl or two-spirit. This library is overwhelmingly full, a powerful indicator that there is a severe and heartbreaking problem in our society. Each book in this library is beautifully hand-bound and the spines are letter-pressed in gold foil with the names of our missing relatives. Moreover, we want to build an online catalog and website to accompany the physical installation to further engagement, interaction and awareness. Books Not Returned Library shares stories of our stolen sisters, mothers, aunts, children, and best friends. They were human, and they deserve their stories told.
Brigit Johnson
Placerville, CA
Brigit Clare Johnson received the Creative Capital Award in 2024. Brigit Clare Johnson is a Northern Cheyenne painter, fashion designer, and mother of three daughters based in Placerville, California. She grew up in Southwestern Montana and raised her family in Northern California. As a practicing artist with a lifelong career in the arts, Brigit’s practice encompasses painting, drawing, sewing, designing, sculpting and weaving. She founded her fashion business “All Dolled Up” in January of 2000, where she designed, patterned and sewed whimsical doll clothes for American Girl dolls. She retired from her fashion business in 2010 to focus on her fine art practice whilst caring for her aging parents. Ever since her sister, Amy Johnson, went missing in May of 1986, Brigit has been an active advocate in the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit (MMIWG2S) movement. To this day, she fights for justice and answers for her sister Amy while spreading awareness of the MMIWG2S epidemic. In the last few years, Brigit has collaborated with her daughters to raise awareness around the MMIWG2S movement while also empowering Indigenous peoples through art
Collaborators
Jordan Ann Craig and Brigit Johnson
Brigit Johnson is a Northern Cheyenne mother and artist based in Placerville, California. Her daughter Jordan Ann Craig is a painter, designer, photographer and book artist. Together, they collaborate to spread awareness for the missing and murdered Indigenous women epidemic.
Jordan Ann Craig
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Jordan Ann Craig received the Creative Capital Award in 2024. Jordan Ann Craig is a Northern Cheyenne artist living and working in Pojoaque Valley, New Mexico. She grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, and received her B.A. from Dartmouth College. In 2017, Jordan was awarded the H. Allen Brooks Traveling Fellowship as well as the Eric and Barbara Dobkin Fellowship at the School for Advanced Research (SAR). In 2019, Jordan was awarded artist residencies at the Institute for American Indian Arts (IAIA) and the Roswell Artist-in-Residence (RAiR) Program. She has also completed artist residencies at UCross Foundation as well as Anderson Ranch. Her work is shown nationally and internationally. She is a newly appointed Commissioner of the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Indian Arts and Crafts Board. Currently, Jordan is painting in Northern New Mexico.
Collaborators
Jordan Ann Craig and Brigit Johnson
Brigit Johnson is a Northern Cheyenne mother and artist based in Placerville, California. Her daughter Jordan Ann Craig is a painter, designer, photographer and book artist. Together, they collaborate to spread awareness for the missing and murdered Indigenous women epidemic.
Jordan Ann Craig and Brigit Johnson
Brigit Johnson is a Northern Cheyenne mother and artist based in Placerville, California. She grew up in Southwestern Montana and raised her three daughters in Northern California. Brigit works in paint, ceramics, weaving, drawing, fashion and sculpture. Her daughter Jordan Ann Craig is a painter, designer, photographer and book artist. Together, they collaborate to spread awareness for the missing and murdered Indigenous women epidemic. Brigit’s sister, Amy Johnson, went missing May 16, 1986 in Livingston, Montana. Like countless Indigenous families missing their loved ones, Amy is still missing. Through installation art and design, Brigit and Jordan create projects in Amy’s memory while also illuminating other families’ stories.