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Raices Culturales opens the door

for local artist

By Meghan Daly, Candice Matthews and Charles McLaughlin

Nancy Gonzalez in her store on the Golden Block.

What happens when you combine art, culture and passion?

Nancy Gonzalez, a local artist from the Hartranft community, provides an answer to this question. Self-sufficient and motivated, Gonzalez owns a party supply store located on the Golden Block. Here, local residents have the opportunity to purchase custom-made party favors, artwork and other trinkets.

Gonzalez learned she had the potential to display her artistic talents by talking to a well-connected neighbor, Veronica Castillo Perez.  When Castillo Perez visited Gonzalez’ home, she viewed the artwork on the walls and did not hesitate in introducing her to the benefits of a cultural resource on the Golden Block. Coincidentally, Castillo Perez is the executive director of Raices Culturales Latinoamericanas, an organization which promotes diversity and cultural appreciation through various art forms.

Gonzalez' business on the Golden block.

 “I didn’t know much about the arts in Philly, especially in the Hispanic area,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez widened her artistic scope by becoming familiar with techniques that allowed her to combine her artistic and entrepreneurial skills. Raices provided her with new knowledge of various art forms and how they related to her existing artistic interests. In order to fulfill her natural desire for abstract art, Gonzalez turned to Raices to help showcase her work.

From the beginning, Gonzalez has been exposed to art. She was a fixture in the store that her mother owned, which inspired the party supply business Gonzalez currently owns. 

Her mother recognized her daughter’s potential at a young age. Gonzalez’ mother would get angry when she saw drawings and sketches in her daughter's school books. She solved this dilemma by purchasing sketchbooks as alternative canvases for her daughters’ art.

The walls of Gonzalez’ store are lined with examples of her colorful artistic works. In order to maintain and promote festive Hispanic traditions, the store also contains party favors, corsages, souvenirs and centerpieces.  The defining characteristic of the store is a personal guarantee that every product is hand-made and specially created for the customer. 

“The way I work is like my paintings” Gonzalez said, “each one of them is very original and unique.”

In the past, Gonzalez has explored many artistic mediums, ranging from colored pencils to watercolors. Two years ago, Gonzalez discovered oil painting and began to produce two to three works each year at home. She was putting a stronger emphasis on her business, rather than concentrating on her artwork. Although her business remained important, her boyfriend encouraged Gonzalez to devote more time to developing and expressing her art.

Gonzalez defines her artwork as abstract, because she enjoys working without boundaries. The colors and shapes within her abstract works represent the emotions she is experiencing at the time of creation.

“When I paint, I paint through my emotion, depending on what is going on in my life,” Gonzalez said.

Mounted on the wall, is “The Sun Lady.” This specific work, named by her son, represents the power of Hispanic women and serves to motivate all females.

Gonzalez opens the doors to her business to encourage and cultivate the artistic skills of females. She offers ceramic classes in the studio located in the back of her store. This five-week, therapeutic class allows participants to socialize and express their emotions through their creations in a relaxed environment.

“I went through very tough times,” Gonzalez said, “the only thing that helped me cope was doing my craft. When I’m painting, everything goes away and you’re able to think more clearly afterwards.”

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