Art and Aldo

Aldo Castillo immigrated to the United States in 1985 where he studied at The School of the Art Institute in Chicago.  As the director of the Aldo Castillo Gallery, he has been recognized in numerous publications that have confirmed his presence as a prominent leader in the Latino community.  They have acknowledged his incessant effort to have the caliber of Latin culture and Latin cultural expression acknowledged and respected in the universal world of the arts. In April of 2000 his efforts were documented by Hispanic Magazine, which named the Aldo Castillo Gallery number 3 among its most prominent top 100 lists for the fastest growing Latino organizations in the United States.

Ron Sager (Fluxcore): What sets your gallery apart from the rest of the high end galleries in Chicago? And why?

Aldo Castillo: Our gallery is the only gallery in Chicago that promotes mainstream Latin American Art. We support both established masters and emerging talent.  We foster an understanding and appreciation for all cultures and their history through lectures, presentations, live cultural performances, classes and other events, both inside and beyond the gallery walls.

Ron: Name 3 of your favorite artists and tell us why they are your favorite.

Aldo: There is no favorite artist when representing so many and for so long. However, my favorite art is that which makes measure how intelligent human beings can be. When I first see a piece of art, I see how an artist can present an already exposed idea in a thoroughly new dimension; it can capture your attention and imagination. Then I look for things like technique and presentation and realize the level of the [artist's] commitment. I am blown away by the quality and message of the work. I am turned on by the intellect associated with a piece of art.

Ron: What do you want people to know about Nicaragua?

Aldo: Nicaragua was one of the worst victims of American invasion and the infamous Contra war. However, Nicaragua is a rich green tropical land of mountains and volcanoes, lakes and rivers, lush rain forests and broad sun swept beaches. Nicaragua is the largest of the Central American republics. Her neighbors are Costa Rica on the south and Honduras on the north. Nicaraguans have made important contributions to the development of Latin American literature and poetry. Famous Nicaraguans include the poets Rubén Darío and José Coronel Urtecho, and the writers Gioconda Belli, Ernesto Cardenal and Sergio Ramírez Mercado.

Ron: Who is someone you have always wanted to have exhibit at your gallery?

Aldo: Emerging artists from all the Central American countries. They lack international exposure and opportunities.
 
Ron: Tell us about your humanitarian projects.

 
Aldo: I have collaborated with a list of organizations: The Illinois Federation for Human Rights, Amnesty International, the Nelson Mandela Childrens Foundation, the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, The Chicago Art Dealers Association, The Chicago Public Art Group, Instituto Cervantes, The City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, The Chicago Public Library, The Art Institute of Chicago, AIDS Foundation of Chicago, The Names Project, The Chicago Latino Cultural Center, the Fundemuni Foundation (to help the children and families of Nicaragua overcome the devastating impact of hurricane Mitch), and Peace Parks Foundation among many others. 

I was also the Co-Chair for the opening benefit for the 1999 SOFA Art Exposition, which raised over $125,000 to benefit the AIDS Foundation of Chicago. These various commitments have garnered the attention and collaborative support of fellow human rights activists such as Nelson Mandela, Jesse Jackson, and his Royal Highness Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands.

Ron: That is quite a list of incredible groups of people and it is amazing to see how much you have accomplished.  Why did you get involved with them?

Aldo: It is my duty to be helpful, and to understand that we all are one, we are all the same.
 
Ron: Can you tell us about your personal work?

Aldo: As a fine artist, I work with themes of the human figure, birds and other abstract images that express emotion through movement.  My sculptures and drawings are characterized by the power of expressive directness combined with organic form and texture. My art has been exhibited at the Popol Vuh Museum in Guatemala City and in prestigious Latin American Galleries and my work continues to gain recognition in private collections around the world.

Ron: Please compete the sentence - "In a perfect world..."

Aldo: In a perfect world, I meditate as much as I can!


Ron: What is the biggest show you have ever curated?

Aldo: As an art dealer and curator, I have curated more than 250 art exhibitions to date. I also worked with corporate art programs for companies such as Fort James Co., AMOCO Co, the CORE center, and the Northwestern Memorial Hospital among others.

Two projects of mine received the most public attention. The curatorial of the Chicago ARTEahora Art Fair – Chicago’s Only Latin American Fair. Now in its third edition, the fair attracts more than 5,000 individuals  each year. Chicago ARTEahora is an international art fair that showcases the important role Latin American Art plays in the international art arena. Chicago ARTEahora concentrates on outsider, modern, and contemporary Latin American Art. Besides the exhibition of important works of Latin American artists, there are educational and avant-garde performance events.

The other project took place at The Museum of Science and Industry on April 20, 2006. The mural, composed of 71 artists and attracted more the 300,000 people.  It was called "The Abstract Mind Mural: Art Exploring Individuals Living With Mental Illness".  The purpose of The Abstract Mind Mural is to promote awareness and understanding of  individuals living with mental illness and to demonstrate that art is a powerful healing tool. Individuals living with chronic and severe mental illness exhibiting alongside professional artists is a metaphor that people living with mental illness must stay connected with the rest of society.  

Read more about The Abstract Mind Mural Here 

Ron: Tell us about your next curated show.

Aldo: We are proud to announce the first collaboration with The Palmer Gallery to showcase  "The Simple Things You See". A solo show by Justin Amundson.  The dates are November 3rd through 17th, 2009.

The show will be held at  The Palmer Gallery

233 W Huron, Chicago IL 60654

312-274-1222

www.thepalmergallery.com 

Information about Justin Amundson: 

Justin Amundson was born and raised in rural Wisconsin in the small town of Northfield. His life growing up was always full of artistic endeavors. As a child he was inspired by his mother's painting and quickly took to his own creative outlets. His youth was filled with drawing, painting, sculpting, and music.

Amundson graduated from the University of Wisconsin- Madison with a degree in music education. Following college he worked as a musician, educator, and for a time, as a pastry chef in a well-known Madison bakery, the Ovens of Brittany. Leaving Wisconsin, Amundson moved to Chicago to pursue an education and career in interior design. 

Today Amundson lives in Chicago and works as an interior designer as well as an artist. His style has evolved over the last several years to what it is now: images that are simple and modern, calm and quiet yet full of energy. Often bold colors matched the shapes drawn from nature; green fields, forests, water, and bright blue sky.

Ron: What is next for you?

Aldo: I will continue to fulfill the mission of the gallery.  I will curate the third edition of Chicago ARTEahora. I will soon be hanging my upcoming event:

December 4th, 2009- January 30, 2010
The Art of buying Art - Important and Collectable original art

Looking for artwork of your own, perhaps start a collection of original contemporary art?  How do you start? 

Opening Reception Friday, December 4th, 5:30 -8:30 pm

THE ALDO CASTILLO GALLERY
675 North Franklin Street   Chicago, IL 60654
Tel:  (312) 337-2536   Fax:  (312) 337-3627

info@artaldo.com
Open 11 - 6 pm Tue-Sat, 11-4 summer hours,  or by Appointment