Multi-layer woodcut. 10 x 8 inches (Image) 12 x 9 inches (Sheet).

‘‘I find myself creating prints of poppies often. Poppies symbolize death, peace, and sleep. Trauma of all varieties leaves it’s traces in our bodies, whether we consciously see the scars or not. The unconscious decision to be ‘asleep’ to what we’ve experienced can be protective and necessary to cope, but not always the healthiest option. For me, the careful excavation of my own hurts from the past is a slow and painful one. Each day I learn to honor my body more and more and come to a sense of peace with each new poppy I grow for myself.My heart goes out to all those living through violent traumas today, especially in the Middle East in Palestine. Violent experiences don’t go away after the event(s) ends. They linger on in our bodies and families. Please do all you can to speak up and more importantly- don’t ignore or dismiss what’s going on because it’s uncomfortable.’’

This original fine art print was created by hand carving each color layer into different blocks of wood and inking each layer, using oil-based inks. The end product is a delicately layered print in a limited edition. This print edition was hand-pulled in Nikki’s studio.