Optional: You may purchase this artwork on a sliding scale ($80-150) as a donation to the Massachusetts Center for Native American Awareness, learn more here.

This is a hand-carved and hand-printed linocut inspired by the indigenous North American folktale of the Three Sisters: Corn, Beans and Squash which is told from Mexico to Montana and celebrates a kinship system of mutual thriving. Sister Corn, Sister Bean and Sister Squash, though different from each other, each provide some benefit to the others’ growth and health. Sister Corn first sprouts and provides a sturdy pole around which the Sister Bean grows her vines. Sister Bean, in turn returns nitrogen to the soil for all three plant Sisters. Sister Squash leaves are large and shade the soil, retaining soil moisture and suppressing weeds for all three. Each sister’s uniqueness is celebrated and recognized as important to the health of the whole.

In this day and age where relationships between women are sadly often characterized by competition, this ancient folktale shows us a different way to relate to each other. The central mythos, the guiding narrative, of this folktale is cooperation, reciprocity and interdependence (all of which are quite different from survival of the fittest, competition and self-interest). This folktale teaches me that the harvest does not just offer us food for our bodies, but also wisdom for our psyches, and our spirits. “Together these plants - corn beans, and squash - feed the people, feed the land, and feed our imaginations, telling us how we might live” says Robin Wall Kimmerer who retells this heartwarming folktale in her bestselling book Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Wisdom of Plants.

The print includes corn, beans and squash alongside native and naturalized North American plants and flowers: milkweed, black-eyed susans, wild rye, wild carrot, thistles, reed canary grass, and pea tendrils.

MATERIALS:

It is printed with Caligo Safewash (non-toxic) Relief Ink on traditional Japanese Hosho Paper or Strathmore Paper, both of which are professional grade. You can learn about the differences between these papers here, and please indicate in the checkout if you prefer one paper over the other.

COLOR OPTIONS:

It is printed with three different color options: Teal, Green & Yellow Ochre. These colors are hand-mixed so please expect slight variations. Photographs have been carefully taken to show the colors as closely matched as possible to the actual colors.

SIZE:

Print Size: 12" x 18" for every color

Paper Size width ranges:

For the Teal and Green colored prints, the paper size ranges from 14.5"- 15", and length ranges from 21.5” - 25" (if the exact size is important to you, please indicate this in the note to seller).

For the Yellow Ochre print, the size is 18" x 24"

NEW! CUSTOM COLORS: If you are hesitant to buy a print because you would prefer it in a different color, please message me directly with a proposed color and we can go from there! It will take 3-5 days.

PACKAGING: This print will be carefully rolled in Kraft paper, packed in a recycled clear bag and shipped in a recycled cylindrical tube. Learn more about this shop’s sustainable packaging choices.

Free Shipping within the USA. Ships out within 1-3 business days.

Questions? Please feel free to email diemdangers@gmail.com or contact me here. you will get a response within 24 hours.

Please note* the copyright of this work is retained by the artist.