In this new series, I retell the the Cherokee folktale How They Brought Back Tobacco. This myth tells about the near-extinction of our people when we were on the verge of losing The Ancient One or the Old Tobacco plant, a sacred plant that was essential for our survival.
Each block in my block printing process is first sketched with graphite and next carved by hand. This block is then pressed onto handmade cotton paper and layered with my own unique monotype printing process.
If you read my first post on the Cherokee myth How They Brought Back Tobacco you will remember when Hummingbird returns home. This piece The Night We Almost Lost Her depicts the moment when Hummingbird returns home with the stolen and last remaining tobacco plant. Hummingbird blows the tobacco smoke onto an old woman who lies in her home on death’s bed. The smoke and the return of the tobacco plant to its home restore the woman’s life and liberate her people from their ultimate demise.
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Red arrows on the top of the print point towards our skyward home and symbolize our ever-present connection to the celestial.
This piece can be found at Cielo Handcrafted on Canyon Road in Santa Fe, New Mexico.