Gerry Díaz’s art exhibition is called “Renacimiento,” which means rebirth. Díaz witnessed firsthand the destruction of his native Puerto Rico from Hurricane Maria. The devastation inspired Díaz to consider just how short life can be. 

“Although the island still has much healing to do, the exhibit has helped me deal with internal healing as I watch the day-to-day struggle that is still going on in Puerto Rico,” Díaz said.

The show will focus mainly on Diaz’s love for Puerto Rico and his fascination with the human figure in a variety of mediums. “Renacimiento” will run from July 2 through August 5th with an opening reception from 3-5 p.m. July 8 at The Society of Bluffton Artists (SoBA) gallery, located in Old Town Bluffton off Calhoun Street. 

Díaz moved from Puerto Rico to Beaufort in 1998. He worked as a graphic designer in the engineering industry. Diaz has been a fine artist his entire life. He trained himself in classical drawing and painting styles — using graphite, charcoal, pastel, pen and ink, acrylics, oil, watercolors and even gouache. 

Over the years, Díaz has been a member of local art associations, participated in international painting competitions, and worked as an art instruction for Michael’s Grumbacher. In 2012, he placed second in the Charleston Piccolo Spoleto Festival juried painting competitions. Díaz is an active artist for the Memory Project, a non-profit group that works with artists to make portraits for abused children in orphanages all over the world. So far, he has sent portraits to Peru, Ukraine, Syria, Poland, Philippines, Ecuador and Puerto Rico. Díaz also works on commissioned pieces of family and pet portraits.