Planter Donation: Erika Flores

Regular price $15.00 USD

Maximum of TWO tickets per person, per order. Purchasing this item DOES NOT guarantee you a physical product.

Artist Bio

Erika Flores is a self-taught multi-media Filipino artist from Toronto who is best known for her illustrations and calligraphy used on a variety of mediums such as acrylic glass paintings, digital illustrations, engravings, and of course – basketballs! She loves to showcase her artwork creatively, often through a unique blend of spoken word poetry and video, and with underlying themes of heritage and culture, empowering youth and marginalized communities, and the art behind athleticism and sports. 

What is the inspiration behind your planter? 

The inspiration behind my planter is celebrating femininity and athleticism in women's basketball. 

What does community mean to you?

'Community' to me is 'strength in connections'. It's a safe space that transcends beyond the physical because you can connect and recognize those who are your 'people', your 'community' anywhere, anytime. I never realized the strength and importance of community until I was the artist who created custom illustrations for the Nike x WNBA collab at Footlocker for the first ever WNBA game in Canada. A woman, who was also of colour but not of Filipino heritage, asked me what the sun symbolized on a Nike swoosh I illustrated. (The sun is the Philippines flag sun). After I explained it to her, she said "I'm definitely putting it on my shirt then". Surprised (since she's Filipino), I asked, "Really? But it's such a specific symbol" and to that she answered, "Because if one of us makes it, we ALL make it." That's the type of bond that art and basketball creates. THAT is what taught me what community is.

What does growth mean to you?

Growth to me is the climb towards the best version of yourself. It means learning from your own shortcomings and experiences, taking leaps to get into situations that are out of your comfort zone, and trusting yourself that you have the capability to stretch your potential (and forgiving yourself when you make mistakes). It means understanding and accepting yourself as you are, but also embracing on the potential on who you could be.

 

Maximum of TWO tickets per person, per order. Purchasing this item DOES NOT guarantee you a physical product.

Artist Bio

Erika Flores is a self-taught multi-media Filipino artist from Toronto who is best known for her illustrations and calligraphy used on a variety of mediums such as acrylic glass paintings, digital illustrations, engravings, and of course – basketballs! She loves to showcase her artwork creatively, often through a unique blend of spoken word poetry and video, and with underlying themes of heritage and culture, empowering youth and marginalized communities, and the art behind athleticism and sports. 

What is the inspiration behind your planter? 

The inspiration behind my planter is celebrating femininity and athleticism in women's basketball. 

What does community mean to you?

'Community' to me is 'strength in connections'. It's a safe space that transcends beyond the physical because you can connect and recognize those who are your 'people', your 'community' anywhere, anytime. I never realized the strength and importance of community until I was the artist who created custom illustrations for the Nike x WNBA collab at Footlocker for the first ever WNBA game in Canada. A woman, who was also of colour but not of Filipino heritage, asked me what the sun symbolized on a Nike swoosh I illustrated. (The sun is the Philippines flag sun). After I explained it to her, she said "I'm definitely putting it on my shirt then". Surprised (since she's Filipino), I asked, "Really? But it's such a specific symbol" and to that she answered, "Because if one of us makes it, we ALL make it." That's the type of bond that art and basketball creates. THAT is what taught me what community is.

What does growth mean to you?

Growth to me is the climb towards the best version of yourself. It means learning from your own shortcomings and experiences, taking leaps to get into situations that are out of your comfort zone, and trusting yourself that you have the capability to stretch your potential (and forgiving yourself when you make mistakes). It means understanding and accepting yourself as you are, but also embracing on the potential on who you could be.