My watermelon obsession and art series began as a daydream escape during the social unrest of 2020—amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the California fires—grew into a playful, evolving world, a space of refuge and reimagining. During this time, I was also volunteering as an online creative writing tutor with 826 Valencia’s program, working with BVHM Elementary students. Those sessions—full of imagination, storytelling, and humor—deeply influenced the whimsical nature of the world I began to create. Populated by monsters like San Francisco’s guardian Godthizza, seed-like beings, and dreamlike environments, this universe emerged as a way to process uncertainty while holding onto imagination and possibility.

At the center of this work, the watermelon first appeared as a visual and imaginative motif. Through ongoing research and curiosity, it later revealed layered cultural meanings—from symbols of community and gathering to histories tied to Palestinian resistance and African American stereotypes—reframing the fruit as a universal form capable of holding complexity while bridging divides.

As both an artist and teacher, this series continues to expand as I push the watermelon motif to uncover new layers of meaning and connection. My students remain a constant source of inspiration—their imagination, curiosity, and openness to possibility actively shape how I build and understand this world. Equally meaningful are the in-person exchanges with viewers; connecting with people who encounter the work and sharing cultural perspectives in real time has become one of the most rewarding parts of the process.