This blockprint collage captures the voices and emotions of those impacted by the catastrophic 2022 Hermit’s Peak Calf Canyon fire—the largest and most destructive wildfire in New Mexico’s history. Inspired by words and drawings from Community Listening Sessions led by Ph.D. researcher Cassidy A. Tawse-Garcia in early 2025, this piece tells the story of people’s deep connection to the land, disrupted by fire and relentless flooding that continues to hinder recovery and erase landscapes central to their identities. 

Rooted in Oaxaca, Mexico’s blockprinting tradition, this work uses printmaking as a tool for social commentary and collective storytelling. The prints reflect the lived experiences of Mora and San Miguel County residents, many from families with Spanish land grant histories who have stewarded these lands for generations. Artist, Amy Maestas, incorporated community drawings and quotations from listening sessions hosted with Neighbors Helping Neighbors, a Las Vegas, N.M.-based mutual aid group. The piece unfolds as a temporal narrative—Before (peace), During (destruction), and After (possible futures)—capturing the grief, resilience, and determination of those still struggling to rebuild. 

Community collaboration was central to this process. Many hands helped make the lettering for the piece, further amplifying the voices of those still awaiting recovery three years post-fire. The blockprinting medium, with its raw, direct imagery, conveys intense emotion and serves as a lasting record of loss and endurance. 

Designed for public display, the prints echo the style of urban graffiti, communicating intense emotion through simple, but powerful direct imagery. This work highlights ongoing struggles with insufficient recovery efforts, as many fire and flood victims remain stranded in a state of permanent emergency. Through collective art, we bear witness to their experiences and call for action.