The sculptural mixed media works by NWA local artist Jeffry Cantu literally and metaphorically weave together organic and manufactured materials found in the traditional art-making practices of Mexico and across Asia. His wall-hanging sculptures transform culturally significant raw materials such as bamboo and corn husks into tapestry-like woven abstractions through soaking, stretching, and hand manipulation. He additionally intertwines vibrant colorful beads and hand-dyed rope into these works that recall Huichol bead work, which is among one of Mexico’s most precious folk arts as a continued tribute to his ancestry. Cantu is a U.S. Navy Veteran who spent considerable time stationed in Japan and across Asia here he became intrigued by Asian culture. There he began to see similarities in the traditional art-making materials and techniques of his Mexican heritage and in Asian cultures which has inspired his current artistic practice. Cantu expresses that this body of work is in response to his ongoing reflection and search for his own cultural identity.