Cultural Council Legends
Castano Group believes good public art should resonate with each person and bring the community closer together. That was our goal when we created “Legends,” a digital projection mapping installation commissioned by the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville.
“Legends” serves as a placemaking catalyst for Northwest Jacksonville, a historic cultural area of the city that has produced African-American trailblazers for over a century. It was also an opportunity to enhance the Legends Community Center, one of the anchors of the KingSoutel Crossing Community. This area has been a focal point of city redevelopment efforts.
Stakeholder engagement and feedback played significant roles in the project’s preliminary design process. The Castano Group canvassed neighborhood businesses and conducted a vision session with students at a local high school to gather their perspectives and opinions for the project. Their feedback and historical research informed Castano Group’s cultural and historical interpretation.
Focusing on education, activism, and sports, Castano Group began creating content outlines for a series of historical “vignettes” that comprise the nearly 30-minute projection experience. Each vignette was refined based on historical research and visual exploration. The resulting art installation utilizes digital artistry and technology to amplify a community’s voice, ensuring that the history and contributions of community legends are not forgotten.
“This exhibition not only honors the featured African Americans selected by the input from local residents, but ensures the history and contributions of our legends are remembered, celebrated, and not forgotten.”
Council Member Ju’Coby Pittman, District 10
