Sabo Tabby Hand Painted Editions

I recently carved this new block print inspired by the Sabo-Tabby Cat design. This symbol was created by Ralph Chaplin for the Industrial Workers of the World, which was the first racially integrated union in the United States.

After researching this specific design and the symbolism of Sabo-Tabby, I quickly fell into a rabbit hole of the extensive history of using cats as symbols. From lions representing power and superiority in Rome and the Royal Family, to witchcraft in the Middle Ages, to divine grace in Ancient Egypt, and all the way to anarchy and labor unions and more commonly through memes and extensive social media entertainment. The cat has been embedded in human culture probably since they decided it was in their best interest to domesticate themselves.

I was moved to create my own Sabo-Tabby cat due to the current political events in the US. Without diving too far into it, I was reflecting on what the core desires of the Sabo-Tabby symbolizes and the move towards human rights represent. Ultimately, we all want to live in peace, love and happiness.

This particular design, and the juxtaposition of the expression of the cat with the four words was inspired by the Wisdom Kings in Buddhism. These wrathful deities typically have very intense and fierce expressions, while representing things like enlightenment, or wrathful destruction of obstacles. One expression in particular represents “Love Fury”

It struck me that sometimes expressing love can require a ferocity, a standing for what we know to be right for us.

I think cats are great teachers for this practice. They will fiercely stand their ground, stay true to what they know is right for them, and we as humans have looked to them throughout history as inspiration for this.