By: Jennifer Cuevas 

Last year brought quite a bit of change to our world with the pandemic, at home and work as we pivoted to life under a new “normal”– masks, physical distancing, diligent hand washing and limited human interaction. As we began to shift to virtual experiences at Self Help Graphics & Art, something remarkable emerged for one of our team members, Andrea Ramirez aka Andi Xoch. 

At the time, Andi was SHG’s Print Studio Coordinator and a member of the womxn led art collective, Ni Santas. Andi always loved plants since her childhood and found herself in a position to not only share her love of plants and plant memes on her dedicated Instagram Latinx with Plants page, but to nurture her “green thumb” by starting her own plant business in Boyle Heights with a storefront of the same name… and so, a plant store was born for the gente, by the gente. 

“Being a Print Studio Coordinator at Self Help Graphics was my dream job but after needing to care for my dad and growing this passion for plants, my priorities shifted. I can confidently say that I’m proud of myself though. I didn’t grow up with the best self esteem and that’s why I wanted community. I built my chosen family with artists and the people I met at Self Help. Everybody wants to be loved and I wanted to be loved by my community. I’ve always felt it but now it’s materialized. And it happened because of my community,” said Andi.

From the spring to the summer of 2020, Andi shifted from Print Studio Coordinator and Apprentice, to plant business entrepreneur growing her dream one plant at a time. With just a few months under her belt, she was not only able to keep her first site thriving, but reap the fruits of her labor by opening a second shop on the east side of Boyle Heights last fall. Today, plant lovers can shop at both of her Latinx with Plants locations at 2900 E. Cesar Chavez Ave and 2117 E. Cesar Chavez Ave.

Although she’s on a new path blending plants and art, Andi remains part of the Ni Santas Collective, as well as the SHG Teaching Artist cohort. Learn more about Latinx with Plants here. Read the full Q&A below.

++++

Q: Where did this love of plants begin? 
A: Growing up we always had plants around and I was exposed through nature. Caring for plants was perfect for me. 

Q: How did you refuel your passion to be a plant parent in more recent years? 
A: I did a bike tour throughout the country a few years ago. When I came back from the road trip I fell into a deep depression, so I started collecting plants once again. It helped me to deal with depression and loneliness. Especially as people were getting married around me. Fast forward a little more, my Father got sick around Christmas of 2019. Something horrible happened when his plane ticket got cancelled and he tried to commit suicide. I felt the responsibility to take care of him. So I started doing pop-ups at my house and putting plants up for sale on Instagram. The next week I started doing it on my porch, then the side of the house and it happened for 8 more weekends. It all happened within 2 months. The same week that my dad came back from Texas, I found my lease. 

Q: How did you find the first store or how did the story find you? 
A: I came to see it on a Monday and on a Wednesday I signed a lease! 

Q: How did you get the plant store together so quickly? 
A: The community pulled up. In the 11 years of organizing, it was the first time I had the courage to ask for help. I wasn’t too proud to beg. Something for the hood by the hood. I’m a young brown entrepreneur. It really was a labor of love. On the first day I got support from my former Ovarion Psycos sisters, Ni Santas family and my plant parent friends. Ni Santas member Clover made my sign. 

Q: Your Latinx with Plants Instagram profile is growing quickly. When you started it was about sharing plants tips and memes. What are some immediate goals? 
A: As far as the page goes, I want to keep highlighting the POC folks. People who really have a long history with connection with plants through our ancestors. I want to highlight them in this predominantly white plant world. I want to share how we’re all coping with the issues in our community with the help of plantas. I want to be able to hire my community, have workshops, programming, open bigger stores. 

Q: Would you like to share about your experience at Self Help Graphics? 
A: I think more than anything I want to show my appreciation for Self Help. It was such an important place for me to grow. I was coming there as a student and left as a Print Studio Coordinator and Apprentice. It gave me the confidence that I needed and the team became part of my chosen family. It made me apply myself and made me more responsible. It truly is a magical place for those who cannot afford art school. That was my art school, where I could hang out and work side-by-side with other artists who I can relate to and learn from and legendary artists who I admire greatly. 

I will always have a soft heart for Oscar Duardo who I learned so much from about life and the history of Self Help. He would always remain calm. I’m going to miss working with him. He reminded me a lot of my dad so I felt like our connection was really special. I cherish my conversations with Pete Tovar, as an artist and elder. Also, Artist Phung Huynh. Phung was like a motherly/sister type of personality to cheer me on. Her work is so important to me. I was able to relate to her alot. Chuy and Melanie of Dignidad Rebelde are my art uncle and aunt. Always encouraging and telling me how they run their space. Working with Patsy Valdez and Judithe Hernandez was a complete honor! I can’t forget my friendship with Dewey Tofoya, who I’ll miss in the print studio too.

Q: What was the most challenging print assignment in the studio for you? 
A: The most challenging print: April Bey’s. It had glitter! Full bleed CMYK glitter on a hot day… but we did it! 

Q: If you have any advice for young burgeoning artists, what would it be? 
A: Be humble or be humbled. 

Jennifer Cuevas is SHG’s Communications Consultant. She is a Cultural Arts Producer, with a passion for the arts, social justice and policy.