Today we’d like to introduce you to Jose Castro.
Hi Jose, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
The need and drive to express myself creatively is innate and I have done so in different ways throughout my life. While still in my native Cuba at the impressionable age of 12, I decided I would become an architect. This was likely influenced by architects that visited my grandfather at our home to review the drawings for houses he was having built. I was fascinated as I watched over their shoulders. It did not take long before I took paper, pencil and ruler and started drawing up house elevations. After moving to Miami at age 14, I stayed on track to pursue such a goal, and followed the required academic trajectory in high school and university. This led me to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture from the University of Miami. The enjoyment I derived from the many art courses included in the architectural curriculum at UM tempted me, mid-stream, to change to a Fine Arts major. However, my financial needs at the time dictated I stay with architecture, as that promised immediate employment and a better income upon graduation.
My professional career path took me from architecture to interior design in Miami where I practiced in several prominent design firms and ultimately my own. The arts always figured prominently throughout my life. While in and out of school and then while practicing in my chosen professions I was always looking for the opportunity to make art, and I did, albeit intermittently. A few years after retirement, my interest in making art reawakened but I never pursued it seriously and was distracted by other pressing matters. A total remodeling of our condo on the Venetian Islands in Miami took a good chunk of that time. Pleased with the results, Interior Design magazine selected it as a feature article in one of their editions including one of the images on its cover. A few more years later, a dear friend facilitated my taking The Passion Test. One of the passions I prioritized in the process was stated this way: “When my life was ideal, I have an outlet for my artistic energies and creativity that is effortless, fun and rewarding.” Never thinking of how that would materialize, months later, a chance meeting with a colleague led me to take studio classes in abstract painting with a well-known master of the arts who was teaching in Miami. I knew I had “arrived”.
At this point, now that I was in a more comfortable and stable financial position to do so, I decided to pursue it full-time. The foundational concepts learned in architecture and design served me well in making a seamless transition into painting. At first, I painted in studio settings under the tutelage of two accomplished and well-known artists in Miami. Then I set out on my own. For a while I painted in my studios at two locations, Miami and Cape Cod where we had a second home. At present, my spouse and I spend all our time in Miami where I also have my art studio. Abstract expressionism best describes my art stylistically. I like to create my own reality. When I paint, I prefer to paint what I feel rather than anything that resembles anybody else’s reality. After expressing myself through painting and photography now for six years, I have realized that I am on a creative exploratory journey. I can be unconventional in my approach and would rather experiment than follow the traditional expected route or methods. At first, I started with painting using acrylics and often mixing other materials into the surfaces: grout, cardboard, paper, sand, coffee grounds, glass. Then I added photography into the mix, creating abstract photographs that included using my own paintings as subject matter, either in progress or completed. Just before the Corona virus pandemic broke out, I had finished experimenting with printing on paper and textiles.
During the lockdown at home for two weeks I took to paper with color pencils, ink and markers. Then in my studio, feeling the duress of the isolation imposed by COVID I rebelled and started mixing my printed textiles with plaster of Paris in experimental forms. My evolution continued to working with wires, wood, ropes and dyeing silk textiles… I was so excited with the discoveries as I tested the limits of these materials that I could hardly sleep at night anticipating the return to my studio the next day. These times of social distancing and constraints have been conducive to greater creativity and explorations in me. I have also started investigating printing on materials that I can display outdoors. Using images from my photography and metal grids I have been creating outdoor panels, still in experimental stages but promising. More three-dimensional pieces have been emerging from materials I have around my studio, such as prints of my photographs, paint swatches, lighting gels… So much to explore and so little time!
All the external forces thrust upon us by this memorable year 2020 have somehow made me be more introspective about my art. A concept I would like to explore in the future is the dislocation of peoples around the world, in particular the Cuban people. I would like to express through some visual creative means how many of us are scattered in so many different countries around the world. My preliminary research tells me the statistics are remarkable. I have already thought of the title: “Everywhere but Home”. With an ample body of work, I have been able to participate in group shows and a solo show in Miami. Interior designers have commissioned me to create artworks for their clients and I have also sold my art throughout the U.S. Submissions of my digital photography have been awarded top honors and prizes in national juried competitions. Writing this brief article has made me realize what a charmed life I have lived so far, no matter the obstacles and limitations along the way. Reflecting back right now, it occurs to me that besides having been gifted with sufficient smarts, the most important factors that have helped me reach my goals and aspirations along the way have been serendipity, intentionality and sheer determination. I can’t wait to see how the rest of my life unfolds!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
All in all it has been a smooth road except in my early years. First losing my father in a car accident at age four. Then leaving my homeland at age fourteen and starting from scratch in a new country. Having to work hard after school beginning upon my arrival in Miami, all during high school, summers and while attending university certainly imposed some limitations. Nevertheless, I recall doing it all with alacrity, enthusiasm and with the vision of getting to a better place in the future. So it was mostly financial struggles.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Most proud of having been successful in my academic achievements, professional career, finding a perfect mate (now together for 36 years) and being able to live out my creative passions actively and fully as I now can. My can-do attitude, positive outlook, compassion and determination, I think sets me apart from others.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Depending how long the Coronavirus pandemic lasts, how art is exhibited and acquired will be affected for a while. New transformative ways are being creatively experimented with for the business of art to survive. The digital world will keep having a great impact on this and on how we make art.
Contact Info:
- Email: josecastrovisualarts@gmail.com
- Website: www.josecastroart.com
- Instagram: @josecastroart
Image Credits
Interior view of our condo credit to Luis Travieso photographer.
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