Aug 22nd, 2025 - Edra Soto’s “Graft” is a public art piece in Central Park that uses parts of Puerto Rican houses, like iron fences and floors, to bring a piece of Puerto Rican neighborhoods into New York City.
It looks like a fragment of a home, showing both the outside and inside, not as a polished tourist spot but as a real lived place. The work invites people to sit, play dominoes, and rest, turning play and relaxation into a way to resist being ignored or forgotten in the city.
The design reflects Puerto Rican culture and history, including African influences and the practical needs of protecting homes while dealing with new neighborhoods and challenges. By placing this style of architecture in a big American city, Soto makes a statement about identity and belonging for Puerto Rican people living in the U.S. The piece shows that Puerto Rican communities are an important part of the city’s life and history, even if they often go unrecognized.
Read more from the original article here.