Martha Castillo
Contact Information
Education
1989 - BTEC Diploma, (with Distinction) Studio Ceramics. Harrogate College of Arts & Technology. Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England
1982 - Art Therapy Masters, Notre Dame de Namur University, Belmont, CA
1970 - BFA, (Theatre) Boston University, Boston MA
Professional Experience
Slide Lectures
2005 Transitions, Pacific Art League, Palo Alto, CA
2005 Martha Castillo, How I Got Here, Plattsburgh State University of New York
Visual Artist Series, 2004-05
Lecture Demonstration
2004 Hand Papermaking for Artists, Pacific Art League, Palo Alto, CA
Instructor Course
2000-date Drawing for Teens, Pacific Art League, Palo Alto, CA
Biography
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Martha Castillo’s life reflects many facets of the arts. Starting with classical ballet as a young girl, she later discovered a home in her high school’s art programs: theatre, ceramics and mixed media. In college she earned a BFA in theatre arts.
By the mid 70’s, Martha had embarked on an exploration of ceramics as a sculpture medium, and continued her studies in England. In 1993, after a seven year sojourn abroad, Martha returned to collage-making as a means to cope with the complexities of American life. Her art form shortly morphed into mixed media, with heavy use of acrylic paint and found objects. Since then, Martha has added fine art printmaking, and the innovative new technique, clayprint monotype, to her repertoire.
In addition to gallery representation, Martha shows in alternative spaces, including her own studio. Martha’s paintings have been compared to Richard Diebenkorn, and Hans Hoffman, among others.
Martha Castillo's artwork is represented in public & private collections in US, Canada, Mexico and Europe.
Artist's Statement
In my experience, nothing is flat; not paper, brushes, tables, thoughts or feelings. We reside among myriad layers of color, texture, and meaning.
Outside the studio, I am always paying attention and interpreting the world in terms of these layers. In the studio, intuition takes over. With art materials as tools of translation, I document my emotional responses to the world; employing layers of color and texture to convey my message. The dialogue, which begins in the studio between the myself and the work, expands into a conversation when a viewer arrives.
Everything, from my earliest memory up until this moment, is another potential element, layer or color; nothing is wasted. Each contributes to my visual vocabulary. My work is about this accumulation; layers built up over time, worn away by use, rebuilt; illustrating the uneven patina of life experience.
Exhibitions
Exhibitions 2005
2005 - May Silicon Valley Open Studios, Group Show, Palo Alto, CA
2005 - Nov Vibrant Earth, Clay Monotypes, Solo Show, Norton Gallery, Palo Alto, CA
Solo Exhibitions
2004 Abstract Canvas, Ravenswood Community Center, E Palo Alto, CA
2004 ClayPrints, Palo Alto Library, Downtown Branch, Palo Alto, CA
2004 New Works, Books Inc. Café Gallery, Mountain View, CA
2003 New Paintings and Prints, ART21 Gallery, Palo Alto, CA
2001 Elements of Abstraction, Serra House, Stanford University, CA
2001 Abstractions, ART21 Gallery, Palo Alto, CA
Group Exhibitions
2005 Full Spectrum, Pacific Art League, Palo Alto CA
2004 Women's Work, Tressider Union Gallery, Stanford University, CA
2004 Art at Work, Alloy Ventures, (Corporate Lease), Palo Alto, CA
2003 A Woman's Place, Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA
2002 Amanacer de Mujeres, Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, IL
Awards & Honors
2005 Full Spectrum, Pacific Art League, Palo Alto, CA - Honorable Mention
2002 Elizabeth Norton Distinguished Service Award, Pacific Art League
2002 Highways & Alleys, Pacific Art League, Palo Alto CA - Honorable Mention
2002 Fools and Jesters, Pacific Art League, Palo Alto CA - Honorable Mention
2000 Between Reality and Make Believe, Pacific Art League, Palo Alto CA - First Place
2000 Something Old, Something New, Pacific Art League, Palo Alto CA - Second Place
Memberships
2004-date - Artist Career Training, Los Altos, CA (international organization)
2004-date - Society of Layerists in Multi-Media, NM (national organization)
1997-date - Pacific Art League, Palo Alto, CA
1995-date - Cultural Center Guild, Palo Alto Art Center, Palo Alto, CA
1993-date - South Bay Area Women's Caucus for Art, CA
1989-1995 - Society of Designer Craftsmen, Licentiate Member, London, England
Purchase Information
I now accept most major credit and debit cards by telephone or regular mail. For further information, please call (650) 493-7763, 10am-4pm Pacific Time, or e-mail anytime at . Do Not send credit card details by e-mail.
Of course real art may look a bit different ‘in person’ than it does on the internet. If you are not completely satisfied with any purchase, you will receive a full refund upon safe return of the piece.
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