Puerto Rican nomadic culture consumes the Georgia College museum, exhibiting an in-depth look into the unique lives of the show’s individual artists.

“Carry On: Puerto Rico Inspected”, a traveling art show, has just recently taken root at GC. The show embodies the art of Puerto Rican natives and their unparalleled perception of the world they live in.

“I think what sets this exhibition apart is that it’s a collection from so many different artists, and it’s representing a theme that is dear to all of them,” Nicole Pitts, sophomore mass communication major, said. “Because it contains work from so many different artists it also allows different perspectives to be shown.”

GC Museum curator Shannon Morris and guest curator of the exhibit and artist, Juan Alberto Negroni were introduced through a mutual friend and put together this exhibit. Negroni’s drawing Tell Them is the promotional piece for the exhibit.

The show had 36 exhibiting artists, all of which range from prominent artists to artists on the rise with one thing in common: their Puerto Rican heritage. The show began in Boston in the fall of 2011 and has continued down the East Coast, affecting all those privileged to see the artwork, because “it is a story that needs to be told,” Morris said. It currently resides in the GC museum and all of the differentiating artwork can be seen by students.

Most of the pieces are 2-D work, ranging from photographs to drawings. One photography collage showing the more crime-related side of Puerto Rico stood out to freshman Logan Thomas because of its realistic approach.

“It shows how people really live,” Thomas said. “It’s a culture shock, and I’m not used to seeing something like that.”

But there are other pieces that are expressed beyond just paper. Some of these include 3-D sculptures made of army men representing Puerto Rico’s involvement in many wars, PowerPoints of pictures of the stray dog problem running rampant throughout the country or even something as simple as a painted radio to represent the art and soul that still remains in their culture despite all of the hardships endured.

“The works in the exhibition relay the complex issues that Puerto Rico now faces,” Morris said. “These issues are important to the United States as well as Puerto Rico because it is one of our colonies.”

For one to get to full experience, they must travel the entire exhibit because each and every picture, sculpture or photograph represents an individual peek into the lives of the artists.

“Certain photos, especially that reflect the religion aspect, made me feel like the author was portraying being vulnerable,” Thomas remarked. “They show the people looking vulnerable, and the vulnerability is portrayed with the aspect of having faith in what you can’t see.”

“Carry On: Puerto Rican Inspected” can be seen in the GC museum until May 8.

For the original report go to http://www.gcsunade.com/2013/02/07/carry-on-puerto-rico-inspected/