This is a hard-carved, hand-printed linocut print inspired by the book The Magical Adventures of Pretty Pearl by Virginia Hamilton. Filled with beloved characters from African American folklore, this story portrays the forest as a sanctuary and safe haven for fugitives who hide from a world that would otherwise enslave them. The cast of real and imaginary characters are helped, nurtured and surrounded by wild birds of all kinds as well as folk magic, poet-prophets, earth-centered wisdom and a deep trust in the spiritual realm. Hamilton shows us how folklore and folk tradition bring this small community into deep relationship with the wild, and how enchantment and magic serve as a source of psychological resilience and practical survival in the midst of one of the most horrifying periods in history.

The linocut print includes a variety of details in the story: a portrait of Pretty Pearl and a profile of John de Conquer (the two main characters); two albatross birds (what the two main characters shapeshift into as they watch over a slave ship as it crosses the Atlantic Ocean); and a buzzard (aka Opete, an Ashanti West African sacred bird who appears in the form of a dance); a de Conquer magical root, berry brambles and a poke berry plant - some of the wild foraged plants and roots used in the book; a community of free people gathered around a campfire; and plenty of feathers! Learn more about this print on my blog.

GIFT IDEAS: This would be a lovely educational and magical piece of art for a children's bedroom or playroom or family living area. It would also be a wonderful donation to the children's section of a public library or educational community center or school or Nature/Wildlife Center that values multicultural history and celebrating African American history and African American contributions towards herbal knowledge, wild foraging wisdom, wilderness survival skills. It would especially be relevant for environmental educational organizations seeking to make the wild more accessible to more communities of color. This piece of art celebrates how a deep connection with the wild is already woven into the histories and ancestries of many communities who find their access to the wild limited.

MATERIALS: It is made with Caligo Safewash (non-toxic) Ink on Hosho Paper, both of which are professional quality.

SIZE:

Print Size: 16” x 20”

Paper Size: 19” x 24”

COLOR: Black

CUSTOM COLORS: If you would like to have this printed in an alternate color, please message me with a color suggestion. It will take 3-5 days.

PERSONALIZATION/GIFT OPTION:

If you are gifting this to someone, feel free to include a brief message. This will be handwritten on a one-page description of this folktale and included with the print. Gifted prints are handwrapped in Kraft Paper (decorated with white feathers).

PACKAGING: This print will be carefully rolled in Kraft paper, packed in a recycled clear bag and shipped in a recycled cylindrical tube. A one-page insert including a description of the folktale is included with the print. Gift wrap is possible, please mention it in your note to seller.

SHIPPING: All my prints are packaged and shipped out within 1-3 business days. This print has free shipping for U.S. Customers, and there is a flat rate fee of $22 for international customers. Depending on your country of origin, for international customers there may be an additional tax you have to pay for the artwork to pass through customs which varies from country to country which is not included in the shipping cost. If you would like to know what this is, please check with your country’s postal service directly. In case this might be helpful, the weight of this artwork when it is packaged in a cylindrical tube is 10 ounces, and the dimensions are 25.5 inches x 2.5 inches x 2.5 inches.

Questions? Please feel free to reach out here, or email me at diemdangers@gmail.com.

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