Artist Statement : Samantha Castro, Cultural Preservation & Play

Artist Statement : Samantha Castro, Cultural Preservation & Play

As an artist rooted in personal narrative and cultural memory, I create works that highlight the symbols, lives, and histories of Puerto Rico, especially those at risk of being overlooked or displaced. For this intervention, I built a large scale coquí frog sculpture to honor an animal that is both iconic and endangered, threatened by climate change, habitat loss, and the harmful behaviors of tourists who treat the island as a playground rather than a home. I make this work because the coquí is more than a frog; it is a voice of the island, a sound of belonging, and a reminder of the fragility of Puerto Rico’s ecosystems and culture. By bringing the coquí into public space at an exaggerated scale, I aim to demand attention for what is often ignored and encourage viewers to confront the consequences of environmental and colonial neglect.

I constructed the frog using accessible, sourced materials beginning with a cardboard armature that formed the skeleton of the body. I then layered paper-mâché to build volume, create form, and give the sculpture its playful yet monumental presence. After shaping the surface, I painted the piece with acrylics, using bold colors to echo both the coquí’s vibrancy and the visual language of Puerto Rican craft traditions.

Through this artwork that is both protective and celebratory and one that advocates for the coquí while inviting the community to reconnect with the land and the living symbols that define it.