Tropical Gems: My Abuelita’s Garden
2025
6″ x 6″
colored glass, wires, and beads
$389
My name is Iris Beléndez. I was born in Puerto Rico, where I have lived all my life. I am a chemist by profession, and when I retired, I decided to pursue all the activities I had not been able to engage in because I did not have enough time. Around four years ago, I discovered mosaics and immediately fell in love with the beautiful colored glasses, ceramics, and stones, and imagined the work I could do with them. For me, it is a very challenging activity, and I long to learn more techniques to be able to capture what I feel and want to communicate with my art.
At the Atelier del Mosaico, we were asked to choose a theme that reminded us of our best memories. I immediately recalled my Abuelita’s garden. As a child, she taught me to appreciate God’s creatures and creations. Her garden was a living testament to that. Of all the areas in her garden, which included all sorts of flowers, my favorite was the view through the dining room window, where I could see the “reinitas” (Puerto Rico’s national bird) drinking sugared water from the metal dish by the jasmine flowers. The image of the “reinitas” and the smell of jasmine flowers stayed with me through all these years and always brings a smile to my face. I have been fortunate that, even today, I have “reinitas” visiting my small garden.
Iris Belendez