Aldo Castillo Named Creative Art Director of River East Art Center

Wednesday, 20 June 2007 01:02

Chicago, IL - Aldo Castillo, who has owned and operated a gallery in Chicago’s River North District since 1993, has been named creative art director for River East Art Center, announced Mikki Markowicz, founder and president of the 140,000 square-foot center.

In addition, he will inaugurate the opening of the Aldo Castillo Contemporary in River East Art Center the 22 of June, from 5:30 to 8:30 PM. Castillo will dedicate his second Chicago gallery to cutting edge artists from around the world, including Chicago talent. He intends to continue exhibiting the works of established and emerging Latino artists at his first location called Aldo Castillo Gallery. “Adding a second gallery in Chicago makes it possible for me to share a wealth of amazing work by talented artists from around the globe,” said Castillo.

“We are very proud that Aldo Castillo has decided to join our art community,” said Markowicz. “Although he is widely recognized as a prominent leader in the Latino community, we are very pleased to provide a place for him to present works by artists from around the world. We are confident that River East Art Center also will benefit from his talents as a curator.”

The first exhibition at the Aldo Castillo Contemporary is a group show introducing many of the new artists the gallery plans on representing. One of the artists, Tanya Hastings Gill, hand cuts paper, which are white on the front, and covered in bright background color. Layers create cast shadows and reflective light, which give the appearance of backlighting on these almost lace-like figures. Another artist, Dennis Lee Mitchell, who works in clay, sculpts like photo-realistic tree branches in a complex arrangement.

“Jump for Joy,” by Terrence Karpowickz will greet visitors at the door, and is set to as a delight children and the child inside all of us. Facing the river, there will be “Derailed” by Sydia Reyes, which had been part of the 2004 Wacker Drive Sculpture Walk. Video installations include Belgium artist, Geert Wachtelaer, and Russian, Galina Shevchenko. Overall media represented by Castillo includes Photography, Ceramics, Collage, Installation, Painting and Performance, including a live performance by Elesta Dance Theater Company at the opening of the new gallery, on June 22.

Castillo has been recognized for his success as an art dealer as well as an advocate for art education and those who are most in need. To applaud his accomplishments as a business owner and his contributions as a human rights activist, Castillo’s gallery received the 2003 Business of the Year Award from the River North Association. That same year, the Metropolitan Fine Art Council bestowed upon him the Gallery of the Year Award.

River East Art Center, 435 East Illinois Street in Chicago, houses fine art galleries, studios for artists-in-residence and classrooms. Built in the early 1900s as a six-story warehouse and shipping terminal, River East Art Center retains the historic character of its original purpose. With its redevelopment at the beginning of the 21^st century, it now features all of the finest amenities for meetings and special events, providing a variety of grand and intimate settings for special events for groups as large as 1,200 people. The Aldo Castillo Contemporary is located at 465 E. Illinois, Chicago, 312.222.0774.