This piece is part of the Sun Valley Museum of Art print series.

pMeet Johnny, a high school custodian whose job was, and continues to be crucial to keeping our schools safe for our students and staff. “We are the front line. [Covid] has been a changer for us custodians. I’m here at 5am… and sometimes at 3am.” He said, as he was showing me all the protocols he’s had to enforce, so students and staff could be safe coming to school.

“…Wearing masks. Making sure we’re wearing gloves when we’re cleaning. All the teachers have Ziploc bags with brand new towels, a spray bottle to disinfect. Every day that the custodians clean, they make sure that the rags are taken out, washed, and replaced. We started having sanitizers everywhere. We didn’t have them before. Plexiglass, In the front office, the library, and everywhere else.” are just some of the things Johnny had to do in addition to his other responsibilities.

“Before, we weren’t considered [essential]… I am happy that we are needed, especially now. We are the frontline, if we don’t work, people will get sick.”

As an elementary and middle school teacher, I have always valued and appreciated the work that our janitors do for our schools and greater community, not just during this pandemic, but all the time. Janitors wear many caps and at times serve as first responders during a time of crisis. Like Johnny said, “we are the eyes of the school,” and this, I know to be true, they are a big reason I feel safe to get up every morning and go in and teach my students during a pandemic and/or a pandemic free world.

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The design was sketched and carved by hand, then printed with traditional oil based printmaking ink onto 100% cotton, acid free paper. Each piece will be titled, signed and labeled as an edition of 12.

*This block is printed on white Canson edition paper— 250 gsm paper, and the yellow poster in the background is individually hand painted with watercolor paint.

Each print is produced using a manual printing press, therefore, each print will be unique and may differ slightly from the pictured original. This is the beauty of linoleum block printing.

Paper Size: 18”x22 ”

Image Size: 12.5”x17”

Paper: Canson edition—100% cotton acid-free

*print does not come framed

Shipping: Prints are carefully packaged and shipped within 3-5 business days.

*If you’re interested in seeing the process visit my Instagram .