El coqui

The coqui is a tree frog endemic to the island of Puerto Rico. They are about the size of a penny and have very loud voices. Once one starts singing, they all follow suit & in a split second an entire mountainside could be singing its praises to mother nature. For me they represent the heart and soul of the island because hearing such a powerful choir in person reminds me of the importance of a strong community.

The sounds of the coquis chirping on the island is burned in my brain as THE memory of Puerto Rico from my childhood - my surroundings a blur, but the chirping deafening. Now, there are much less sounds of the coquis on the island, so it’s important that we, as Puerto Ricans [& humans in general], keep them and their legacy alive. For that reason - I’ve chosen the Taino symbol for the coqui as the perfect way to keep that legacy of love and community alive thru art.