Jun 2

Jun 2 Cassidy Ramos | Floral Press Artist; Skateboarding Instructor, Kona Skatepark

Cassidy is a gal of many talents and hustles—from floral press artistry and floral sales, to teaching skateboarding and working as a behavioral therapist. Having grown up immersed in her family’s business at the legendary Kona Skatepark in Jacksonville, FL, Cassidy’s knack for entrepreneurialism, love of community, and affinity for nature and the outdoors have carried her through many passions, interests, and career moves over the years.

The Basics:

Hometown: Jacksonville, FL
Current city: Jacksonville, FL
Alma mater: Flagler College
Degree: B.S., Criminology/Psychology
Very first job: Kona Skatepark cashier + Mellow Mushroom waitress
Hustle: Floral Press Artist; Lessons Instructor + Artist, Kona Skatepark; Sales Associate, Kuhn Flowers

The Interests:

Babe you admire and why?
I look up to and admire Crystal Floyd so much. She is supportive of all artists, unique in her creativity, inspires and works with children, and is an overall good role model. Crystal’s sculptures and terrariums have had my eye since I was in highschool when I first visited CORK.

What’s your go-to coffee order?
Iced anything with an extra shot of espresso

If you could learn from one female artist, who would it be + why?
Rebecca Louise Law, the floral installation artist recently featured in The Cummer. Her life story and love of flowers and their life stages inspired me, and I was so honored to have art featured during her expedition. I would love to be able to be a fly on the wall in her art studio for the day.

The Hustle:

Tell us about your hustle.

At Kuhn Flowers, a local floral shop in Jacksonville, I run the front of the store and help customers select the proper flowers for their occasion or take care of their greenhouses, etc. I have been working at Kuhn for a little under a year, and it has been a nice change of pace and a great learning opportunity for me. Being surrounded by flowers all day is nice, too. I also teach skateboarding lessons at our family business, Kona Skatepark. I have played a number of roles here, but currently work with a number of special needs children and aspiring skater girls of all ages. I have a few years of experience being a behavioral therapist for children living with autism, but I had to take a break from working directly in the field for a while, so being able to work with kids doing skate lessons is really fun for me.

As a floral press artist, I am constantly on the forage and pressing things from my daily commutes no matter where I’m going. I try to throw a handful of flowers or foliage in a press at least every day. I take in around 5-8 wedding bouquets monthly as well, which I press and frame for the bride. I have to keep the spots limited, because pressing a wedding bouquet is way more tedious than wild or garden flowers, and I have to have press space for my market art! You can catch me at the riverside arts market most Saturdays or around town at other local pop ups, too.

What’s your professional journey been like so far? How did you find yourself at your current position(s)?

As far as my art or “ManicBotanicc” goes, I really took myself out of my element at first by making art to sell. I never thought of myself as an “artist,” for that matter. I was given an opportunity by a few friends to show my art after posting a few things I made online, and started to participate in local art markets. I met a lot of people, from artists to entomologists, who have helped me and taught me so many things along the way. I never in a million years would have thought I would have art in a museum. I still don’t even think that feels real to me. I am so thankful for the support and opportunities I’ve been given by other local artists; I’ve learned so much about plants and natural Florida since taking art more seriously. It has changed the way I see everything, and made just about anything I do enjoyable—if there’s a plant around.

When did you press your first piece? Can you describe it to us, and how has your style changed since?

My first pressed flower is a sad one. My dad passed away when I was 11, and I saved some flowers from his funeral, and pressed and dried some to hang in my closet. I made my first framed piece during my sophomore year of college to help decorate my first apartment—and I still have it! It features two white wild daisies and some baby’s breath, laid on black felt in a small wooden frame. It's one of my only art pieces I’ve kept.

How have your past professional and academic experiences and lessons prepared you for the work you do today? How have they not prepared you?

Growing up at Kona has given me a multitude of life experiences—that are more than unique, to say the least—and I have met a rainbow of people there. Skateboarding provides a space to be whoever you are, so I think I grew up in the best type of environment for “being yourself” and being creative. Going to Flagler College only boosted being able to be weird and creative, because I was surrounded by tons of weird creatives from all over the place. I played music at a few local restaurants; music was my main creative outlet while I was in school. I grew up playing acoustic guitar and singing in the living room with my dad. Being able to play in front of people was a huge growing and learning experience for me.

I moved to Puerto Rico right after college, which gave me a huge appreciation for tropical flora and fauna, as well as the lifestyle and friendliness of the island. The arts market there sort of sparked my interest in being able to display things I created, whether I sold them or not. When I moved back home, I got into behavioral therapy, working with kids with special needs—which put some use to my degree! When I had to take a break from that, I became a full-time artist, and really was able to dive into learning about local flowers, plants, butterflies, and nature in general.

For those who don’t know, what does your process look like from conception to completion? Is there a different method of pressing for different flowers or materials?

I have a few different types of flower presses! Different flowers take different pressing methods depending on thickness and the type of environment they live in. Pressing a wedding bouquet is a completely different process than a handful of wildflowers—but no matter what I’m working with, it all requires patience. Everything takes at least two weeks to press to make sure the flowers are fully dried.

Where do you typically find inspiration for your art?

A lot of my art is inspired by what I dream the world was before there were people—where plants and bugs are thriving. Some of my frames are sort of like fantasy landscapes, where others are all plants that realistically grow together. Puerto Rico inspires a lot of my art as well, because of the forests and bright and natural colors of the island in general.

How has being a woman impacted your professional experiences? What can we collectively do to support and empower women in your industry today?

For me, being a woman in the skateboarding industry has been empowering and uplifting. Holding skate contests and orchestrating tons of silly skater boys helped sharpen my leadership and communication skills, as well as helped me be comfortable working in the public eye. Watching girls I’ve known since I was young grow up to be professional skateboarders, artists, brand owners, etc., feels so amazing. Any time I see a woman who has been to Kona in the past in a magazine or a video, I get so stoked—not only that they are successful, but that they stuck with their passions and found support along the way.

For those who don’t know, what is the Kona Skatepark story? How long have you been working there?

I could probably write a whole book about Kona, but I will try to keep this answer short. Kona Skatepark is a piece of history in our hometown. As the world’s oldest operating skatepark (even the Guinness Book of World Records says so!), pro skaters from all over have made trips to Kona—and even have grown up there. It’s a landmark for skateboarding, and a destination for extreme athletes all over the world. My grandparents bought Kona in 1979, and we have been its caretakers ever since. I have spent my whole life there—I started working behind the snack bar when I was around 11, but had been terrorizing the employees long before that. Apart from general park operations, I helped run a park series called Florida Bowl Riders Cup, as well as tons of other local skate contests and events. Currently, I teach skateboarding lessons and help with the Saturday night music shows.

What’s your favorite thing about Kona?

The family it has provided me, hands down. I wouldn’t be who I am today if I didn’t grow up at such a crazy place full of eclectic people. From our employees to passers-by, the people who come to Kona—the good, the bad, and the ugly—are my favorite part.

What’s one thing you’re proud to have accomplished in your career thus far?

I’m honestly really proud of the work I did as a therapist for kids with autism, and the impact I have had on their families. The same goes for my kids I teach skate lessons to. I like being the person who grants families all the grace they need, and is unendingly patient with their children. I find ways to have an impact on any kid I meet. Whether it's teaching them about pressing flowers or skateboarding, I just want to be inspiring and comforting for them to look up to.

Career and/or life advice for others (both inside and outside of your industry?)

Always give people grace, especially your fellow creatives. You never know what someone is going through at home or internally, so always offer a smile—the attitude you walk in with is usually matched by whoever receives it. This is something I’ve slowly learned, but it has made my life and interactions so much more peaceful and enjoyable.