Marisol, 1980s
When I see this painting of “El Flamboyan Tree” in my mother’s home, it transports me to Puerto Rico, where my grandparents are from. Born and raised in the South Bronx, my first trip to Puerto Rico was when I was eight years old. I remember being in awe of the sounds, the smells and the rich and vibrant colors, a stark contrast to the brown and concrete of my neighborhood in the Bronx. The beautiful flamboyan tree in my great aunt’s backyard was unlike anything I had ever seen before. The painting always brings me back to that summer in Puerto Rico.
