The Spice of Life

By Maria Angeles Linares

Cinnamon Edgar is a remarkable individual. Her “joie de vivre” is infectious and evident in her artwork. The colors and natural beauty of her surroundings come through vividly. You could say that Cinnamon’s view of the world around her is uniquely hers and that she finds beauty where others may not.

Born 46 years ago at Fishermen’s Hospital in Marathon, Cinnamon has lived in the Keys most of her life. Diagnosed with Down syndrome, Cinnamon has not allowed her condition to define her. She has taken life by the horns and achieved everything she has set out to do.

Cinnamon attended the Marian Center for about 20 years, and when not in class herself, she was teaching 6- to 8-year-old students how to use computers, and she also found time to read stories to younger children. While at the Marian Center, her artwork was often chosen to decorate the invitations of many of the school’s events. Cinnamon has always kept busy and helped others.

Cinnamon’s artwork gives us a small glimpse of how she sees the world, and what a beautiful world it is, filled with marine life, mangroves, wildlife, sunsets, and sunrises. The Monroe Association for ReMARCable Citizens and her supported employment coach Tina Porter have played pivotal roles in helping Cinnamon place her work for sale in the local shops and boutiques throughout the Keys. Like a true entrepreneur, Cinnamon takes care to replenish her supply of note cards and prints at the different outlets that sell her work, does her own books using Quickbooks, and makes sure to pay her taxes.

Cinnamon is an inspiration to all who meet her. She is an active member of the Matecumbe Historic Trust, whose mission is to build a museum to house Florida Keys artifacts that have been collected for more than 60 years. I know that museum will become a reality because Cinnamon accomplishes everything that she sets out to do. We look forward to her next project and her beautiful artwork.


Cinnamon’s artwork gives us a small glimpse of how she sees the world, and what a beautiful world it is, filled with marine life, mangroves, wildlife, sunsets, and sunrises.


Like a true entrepreneur, Cinnamon takes care to replenish her supply of note cards and prints at the different outlets that sell her work, does her own books using Quickbooks, and makes sure to pay her taxes.