Juracán vs Avacado

Juracán vs Avocado was inspired by a conversation with Alette Simmons Jimenez and her story of three generations of a cherished avocado tree. Fruiting trees, such as mango and avocado are strongly connected with the summer season in Florida, as are hurricanes. This tree was the second generation grown from seed of a neighbors tree. One summer the tree was heavily laden with fruit that was not quite ripe. Rather than pick it before a hurricane, they decided to risk it, only to lose the tree. However now they have five trees from the fallen tree. The symbolic hurricane representation hidden in the leaves of the tree refers to the symbol for Juracán, the god of destruction, wind, and storms by the Taíno, Indigenous Caribbeans. Additionally the split tail bird in the figure's hand is also thought to be an omen for hurricanes by the Seminoles.