Sales From This Queer Puerto Rican Artist's Merch Support Hurricane Maria Recovery

Born and raised in Puerto Rico, queer artist Pancho Guillermo Cordova felt a responsibility to help his community in the wake of Hurricane Maria's mass devastation. He's created an exclusive tote and tee "por Puerto Rico," featuring an illustration of a young child riding a bird and carrying the Puerto Rican flag amidst clouds.

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"The clouds refer to the hurricane," Cordova says. "The bird is a Chango or a Grackle--very common in many islands of the Caribbean, and one of the most common in Puerto Rico. It is resilient and resourceful. The hat on the bird is called a Pava, crafted out of palm tree leaves, used in the island by farmers and has been a staple symbol of hard workers under the sun."

He decided to join all these elements together as a symbol of strength, with the kid representing "confusion, but assertion--ready for the fight and what may come in any situation." Hurricane Maria brings inevitable uncertainty to Puerto Ricans, but "looking forward and pushing forward together is key," he says. "Regardless of where you are from, we are all responsible for natural disasters hitting our planet."

To purchase one of Pancho Guillermo Cordova's products, click here. All proceeds will directly benefit Puerto Rico.