Art show in Jacksonville highlights Puerto Rican culture

A local man held an art show this weekend to showcase Puerto Rican culture

“Today is the five-year, pretty much, exhibition of my work from 2017 to 2021, and I felt like it was time to show the first half of my work from it,” said artist Eddie Castro.

Castro expressed how important it was to have his work displayed in an art gallery and not just online.

“I didn’t really want to share it digitally, I wanted to share it on walls so you can feel it, hear the music, have a working installation right here with the dominos. This feel like, you know, what it would feel like to go to like a neighborhood, you know like a little bar, kiosk, and have a good time,” said Castro.

When it comes to inspiration for this work, Castro has many.

“The biggest Inspiration of mine was Gale Luciano. Based out of New York, I saw his exhibit a couple of years ago when I went to the Met in New York. And that inspired me to have to put my work on walls about Puerto Rico,” said Castro. “He told a different story, a story about Ricans and immigration, so I’d figure I would tell my story on going back home and the things I enjoyed viewing, seeing and doing.”

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Castro hopes that his art will inspire other Puerto Ricans to share their art.

“And it’s been amazing talking to other Latinos, other Puerto Ricans, just other, you know, people that are from Spanish-speaking countries and seeing that representation of what I’m providing here hopefully provides more casings and more shows, more things for other Hispanics in the community to have. That opportunity to show their own work and to talk about their own life and or events,” said Castro.

This was Castro’s first ever solo show.

If you’re interested in learning more about his artwork you can visit his website at eduard-castro.format.com.