Entering through the doors of the Cactus Valley Art and Supply Co., bright piñatas hung from the ceiling, and I was immersed in a vibrant space adorned with sculptural motifs from a nostalgic time when cartoons and trips to the mercado were the true essence of joy.
The solo show “Color Between the Stars” by artist Sandro Galicia Toledo celebrates the culture, color and creativity of the residents in the Rio Grande Valley. The show opened Oct. 11 at Cactus Valley Art & Supply Co., located at 305 W. Van Buren Ave. in Harlingen.
Souther Recio, the owner and head artist of the company, said the show contains “a lot of allusions to childhood and cartoons and kind of getting lost in, you know, watching a TV show.”
Recio said that, from conversations with the artist during the installation, they learned the artwork was reminiscent of tuning into a favorite show and tuning out the rest of the world for that moment.
“I think we live in a time, right now, where there’s a lot of bad stuff happening all around us,” she said. “So, to be able to come into a space like this today and see all the bright colors and the stars and the cheerful pieces, we can kind of get lost here in this moment and maybe put all of that aside just to have a good time together.”
Recio said she and Galicia Toledo hope visitors walk away from the show with a sense of joy and a reconnection to their inner child.
Galicia Toledo, based in Los Fresnos, described his artistic style as “fun” and aimed at making people “have a good time and smile.” His media of choice include acrylic, oil pastels and Posca markers on canvas or wood.
As he continued to describe himself as a “funny artist” in front of his piece “Ram, (Ramiro)” (acrylic and paint marker on wood), Recio walked toward the artwork and placed a metallic pink star on the label indicating it was just sold.
“Ram, (Ramiro),” an illustrated woodcut, depicts a fuzzy beige cat dressed in youthful attire with a bright yellow star on its T-shirt and a playful yet menacing gaze. There is a pastel green border traced around the silhouette, emphasizing the character’s charm.
Asked about his inspiration behind creating the piece, Galicia Toledo replied he considered the likeness of his cat.
“I have a cat who’s very angry, but it’s just, like, she’s so cute,” he said. “So, I tried to do the, like, angry face and, like, cute body.”
The artist said one of his friends said it looks like Ram, another friend of his.
He said the show is inspired by his upbringing in the Valley. Through his use of bold colors and whimsical imagery, Galicia Toledo draws from childhood memories and regional Mexican motifs.
“[Like] the rótulos [hand-painted signs] here, it’s like stuff that you would see, like, in Mexico or even here in the Valley,” he said. “But it’s just … things that are here in the Valley, things that I loved as a kid, and the colors as well. A lot of it is, like, based off of, like, kids toys.”
The chicharra, or cicada, motif is one that is recognizable in the Valley, and Galicia Toledo’s “Chicharra #1” (acrylic and paint marker on wood) claimed its place on the gallery walls. Its gargantuan scale creates a comical contrast to the insect’s actual size.
You can almost hear the chirping of the chicharra break through the wood.
Galicia Toledo said the process of creating his piece involved projecting the image to trace it onto the sanded wood, cutting the silhouette out using a handheld jigsaw and, finally, adding his signature layers of vibrant paint.
“So, the main wood is from [Bandera Coffee Co.’s] old, like, cabinet doors,” he said. “And my boss was like, ‘Hey, like, you think you can use this for something?’ And I was like, ‘Yeah.’”
Galicia Toledo said many of his pieces are made from repurposed material, adding that upcycling material plays an important role in his artistic practice.
“I love repurposing things,” he said. “Or, like making anything that we can make DIY is, like, a good thing for me because you’re giving this old piece that was just thrown out a new life.”
Galicia Toledo credited the local artist community and his friends as a significant source of inspiration.
“Valley artists … all my friends [being] artistic or creative, I think that’s a big inspiration for me, and how they … create so many beautiful things,” he said. “… This whole show is literally inspired by all my friends.”
Galicia Toledo believes many people outside the area do not see the creative life that exists here and said his show is almost like a “love letter” to the Valley.
“It’s like, this is for y’all, like, something that is, you know, recognizable that you can see, like a taquería, or … at the flea market, or … anywhere that you just, like, are familiar with,” he said.
“Color Between the Stars” will run until Nov. 1. For hours of operation, visit cactusvalleyart.com or @cactusvalleryart on Instagram.
