Tropical Gems: Looking for Guava(Buscando Guayaba)
2025
6″ x 6″
stained glass, glass seed beads, metal floral wire, floral stamens
NFS
Since I was a child, my favorite fruit has been Guavas. This is a tropical fruit native to Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean, where I live (Puerto Rico). There are different varieties ranging from yellow to pale green, and flesh ranging from white to vibrant shades of pink or deep red. It has edible seeds in the central pulp and is rounded in shape (some are oval, depending on the species). Guava leaves are dark green, oblong to oval, and flowers are white, with five petals and numerous stamens. The fruit texture is similar to pears, but with a more crunch. This fruit has a variety of culinary purposes, though it’s commonly eaten by itself. It is also made into juice, dried snacks, fruit salads, desserts, and particularly for making jellies, glazes, jams and marmalades. My preferred variety is the Tropical Pink Guava, which inspired my work. It has salmon-pink flesh with a sweet, fruity flavor that tastes like a hybrid between passion fruit, strawberry and pear. My work title is the name of a popular Latin song, “Buscando Guayaba” (Looking for Guava). The song explores a theme of searching for something with a unique flavor and essence, often metaphorically, with guava representing a desired human pursuit of an ideal, such as a perfect partner, a dream, or a life goal, like happiness. The song’s playful tone, combined with a salsa rhythm, was written by Ruben Blades, a renowned Panamanian singer and songwriter, winner of 12 Grammy Awards.
Arturo Costas