The Bonao Santos de Palo arts group now has its own museum and sales center – the Bonao Exhibition Center and Wooden Saint Sculptures Gallery. The new center is located right on Duarte Highway next to the La Gran Parada shopping stop. The store/gallery was set up with the help of a contribution from the Falcondo Foundation and Xstrata Nickel. It adds to the attractions of centrally-located Bonao, as an arts and culture center midway between Santo Domingo and Santiago and the north coast. The group was founded by Bonao arts and crafts teacher, Pedro Mendez. Attending the event were Antonio Garcia, general manager of Xstrata, artist Candido Bido and Environment Minister Jaime David Fernandez.
The painted wood sculptures, or Santos, are images of saints, holy figures and legends of popular Catholicism that form part of a major folk tradition and legacy of Spanish heritage in the Dominican Republic. Each sculpture reflects the individual talents of their creators.