Honrando las manos que cultivan la tierra.

Reduction wood block print —edición variable

Inspired by the working hands of this nation, as well as the words of Joy Harjo —23rd Poet Laureate of the US and a member of the Mvskoke Nation.

“Honoring” by Joy Harjo

Who sings to the plants

That are grown for our plates?

Are they gathered lovingly

In aprons or arms?

Or do they suffer the fate

Of the motor-driven whip

Of the monster reaper?

No song at all, only

The sound of money

Being stacked in a bank

Who stitched the seams in my clothes

One line after another?

Was the room sweaty and dark

With no hour to spare?

Did she have enough to eat?

Did she have a home anywhere?

Or did she live on the floor?

And where were the children?

Or was the seamstress the child

With no home of his or her own?

Who sacrifices to make clothes

For strangers of another country?

And why?

Let’s remember to thank the grower of food

The picker, the driver,

The sun and the rain.

Let’s remember to thank each maker of stitch

Any layer of pattern,

The dyer of color

In the immense house of beauty and pain.

Let’s honor the maker.

Let’s honor what’s made.

Manos que nos sostienen.

This piece is part of the “Essential Workers,” series.

The design was sketched and carved by hand, then printed with traditional oil based printmaking ink onto 100% cotton, acid free paper. Each piece will be titled, signed and labeled as an edition.

*This is a variable edition, meaning that the color of the paper varies.

Each print is produced using a manual printing press, therefore, each print will be unique and may differ slightly from the pictured original. This is the beauty of woodblock printing.

Paper Size: 11”x 15”

Image Size: 9”x12”

Paper: Stonehenge-white and kraft (tan)

*print does not come framed

Shipping: Prints are carefully packaged and shipped within 3-5 business days.

*If you’re interested in seeing the process visit my Instagram .