This piece was inspired by my newfound hobby of indoor gardening and houseplants. Growing up, my grandparents, tios and tias, and older family friends always had houseplants. I admired their beauty, but didn't pay too much attention. Years later when I went to college, it came time to decorate my own apartment. It was then that I realized why all the homes of my loved ones were filled with leafy friends. Houseplants had the power to make a home feel like home. My spiraling journey into plant collecting began. By the time I knew it, I was trading pieces of plant cuttings, gifting plants and conversing with my much elder family members about all sorts of plant related topics.
Houseplants became a hobby that connected me to my roots. (Pun intended) It bridged a gap between me and my grandparents and relatives of another generation. Growing up I had a homegrown hobby I hadn't even recognized until, ironically, I left my hometown.
'Homegrown' was my very first mural project. I had never painted at this scale before but was eager to begin. I'm very thankful to the Casa de la Cultura, El Comite Cultural del Pueblo, Inc. in Del Rio, Tx, my hometown. It is located on the building at 309 Cantu St facing Guillen St.
Watch the time lapse of this project here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGma99imtUQ&t=30s