by Monica Chamness
Staff Writer
Driving down Eighth Street in Springfield, it is hard not to miss the boarded up houses, vagrants loitering in the street and dilapidated buildings with bars on the windows. It’s the picture of urban blight.
Ray Castro plans to change that picture this spring when he opens the 8th Street Art Gallery off Main Street.
Castro envisions a contemporary art gallery showcasing both local and national artists. Books will be kept on the artists so that patrons can view the artist’s latest works even if the pieces are not on display.
“I’m not incredibly pleased with the art scene in Jacksonville so I’m helping contribute to make it more of what I want it to be — more special, more primary instead of secondary — not just something to be hung on the wall of a restaurant or auctioned off,” said Castro.
An artist himself, Castro is a graduate of the Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale. His mentor had a gallery which Castro managed for him.
“He considered himself a finishing school for me,” laughed Castro. “He was French and had traveled around the world and had some very clear ideas.”
After that, Castro earned a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from New Mexico State University.
Castro purchased the 1,200 square-foot Springfield property last year and is in the process of adding central heat and air, a coat of paint, ceramic tile in the kitchens and bathrooms, restoring fireplaces and hardwood flooring and updating electrical work and plumbing. Sculptures and fountains will grace the courtyard.
Victorian Zen is how he describes the final product: all interior walls will be white to better amplify the art which will hang there.
“I’m not interested in art where people aren’t doing work that is evoking emotion and artists that aren’t interested in changing and evolving,” he said. “On the small art scene, there a lot of artists who get a gimmick that they find sells and they stick with it and they don’t try to grow. I have a problem with that.”
Castro has timed the opening of his gallery to coincide with the Springfield Preservation and Restoration Spring Home Tour.
“SPAR’s concept of their next home tour is going to be about art because of what’s going on in Springfield,” said Castro. “Stephen Dare [formerly of The Loft] has opened a gallery on Main Street with [painter] Lee Harvey and Paul Shakey has bought another space on Main Street that he’s planning on doing something with. This is going to become an arts district.”
The reasonable property values and proximity to downtown were what initially caught Castro’s attention.
Adjoining the property is 10 residential units, which Castro intends to ultimately lease to artists who may be involved with the gallery. Currently, low-income residents are housed at the location. Once renovations are complete, the tenants will be subject to drug testing and must meet certain requirements to stay.
“I’ve got experience with lots of art galleries that go under because they base all of their overhead on sales of art,” explained Castro. “The concept is that when we have gallery openings, they [artist-tenants] can have their studio doors open for people to view what they’re doing in their work space,” he said.
Castro’s wife, Pattie, is a partner in the venture. Initially she had her doubts about the place.
“She saw the neighborhood and she was scared,” he recalled. “I’m the dreamer and she’s the realist. My whole family thought I was nuts but the property value has doubled and I’ve kept it rented.”
As a side business, Castro and his wife also breed and show bulldogs and pugs.
Castro said turning his aspirations into a viable entity is also good for his career as an artist.
“I realized early on that having control was what was right for me,” he said. “I have been developing traveling shows and creating shows in unconventional spaces but having your own space helps create legitimacy. Having a gallery space helps strengthen my reputation as an artist. It gives a local place for people to come and see my work.”