The winner of the t-shirt contest is — drumroll, please — Maylen Nelson!
Nelson is originally from Tijuana but grew up visiting Coronado. As a child, she would stop by the ice cream shop at the Hotel del Coronado, walk around town and eat at different restaurants with her family. After spending a few years in Chicago, she decided to settle on the island with her 8-year-old son.
The t-shirt she designed features simple illustrations of jump houses, fireworks, Concert in the Park and people gathering together. The Concert in the Park is an event she often attends with her son.
Now in her second year living in Coronado, Nelson said she loves how the city celebrates Independence Day.
“I tried to include as much as I could without making it feel crowded. I wanted it to be simple but symbolic,” Nelson said.
Nelson said she doesn’t define herself only as an artist, but also as a maker and crafter. She loves arts and crafts because they are part of motherhood, but she also appreciates them for their therapeutic value.
“Whenever I feel stressed or overwhelmed, I turn to some kind of craft project,” Nelson said. “As a mom, art is included. My son loves trying new things, so we’re always doing arts and crafts together — macramé, flower pounding, drawing, painting.”
Certified as an expressive arts instructor, Nelson said she’d like to start an arts-and-crafts club in Coronado.
“I see art as something therapeutic — a way to express yourself and let go. It doesn’t have to be seen or published or even perfect,” she said.
She recently hosted a pop-up at the Coronado Flower Show, where she taught participants how to transfer flower pigments onto tote bags through flower pounding.
“We were so loud that we got moved,” she said with a laugh. But Nelson said the activity provided a way to release stress and anger, and the pop-up sold out.
Her Mexican roots also play a role in her art, as she said she enjoys using vibrant colors.
“Mexican culture is full of color, so I find inspiration in that,” she said.
