EDGE Chicago

Walking with Aldo Castillo down a hallway full of hello-waving people at the River East Art Center, where Castillo both serves as creative director and keeps a contemporary gallery, it becomes no wonder why much of Castillo’s own sculptural artwork includes plaster-cast phonebooks. His life is full of people. It’s one thing to make a living," says Castillo, "and another thing to be alive."

This is just one of many, nearly poetic verses Castillo will utter throughout the afternoon that I could genuinely believe but never get away with actually saying. But, coolly coming from Castillo, whose social life is so greatly embedded in his profession, I instead say "Indeed, it is!" with more enthusiasm than could ever be deemed hip.

It helps that Castillo delivers the adage while standing in one of his two galleries, surrounded by the diverse and gorgeous artwork made by the six Ibero-American artists included in the current exhibition "3 + 3 = 6," being held at his River North location.

It also helps that Castillo is totally sincere.

Castillo came to Chicago in 1985, moving from his native Nicaragua to study architecture and design at the School of the Art Institute on full scholarship. He has been here ever since for reasons simultaneously personal and political, two things that have continued to be intertwined for him since his youth. Castillo was granted political asylum by the U.S. in 1986 amidst a violent time of war and political unrest in Nicaragua.

In many ways, Castillo was "stuck here," which was especially difficult in light of his urges to travel and explore different cultures. This could, perhaps, explain his motivation in the early 90s to begin an art gallery dedicated to showcasing both international and local artists. He could bring world culture to his own backyard.

"Everything I do is for the purpose of education," says Castillo, who has successfully managed to negotiate the careful balance between being a commercial gallerist and dedicated humanitarian through both his curatorial and business practices.

Beginning in Lake View, later moving to the River North District, and then expanding to include an additional contemporary gallery in the River East Arts Center -- as a professional in the cultural field, Castillo says his objective always has been to benefit people.

From the start, when he allowed his first gallery to be used as space for a local theater-group, his galleries have been sites for programming beyond fine-art exhibitions. In addition to lectures, performances and classes, he has hosted numerous fundraisers to support the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, The Chicago House, and various local dance companies amongst other foundations -- many of which include Castillo as a board member.

Moreover, 2005 saw the establishment of the Aldo Castillo Foundation, which has funded the creation of the Mural of the Abstract Mind. It features over 60 artists from 5 continents -- each living with mental illness. The mural was later donated to the Neumann Foundation, which benefits persons with disabilities.

A clear believer that a better, broader conception of other people and cultures can be attained through art; Castillo’s exhibitions regularly have featured artists from a plethora of diverse, frequently marginalized identities: young, often untrained artists of third-world countries, early masters of Latin American painting, queer artists and artists living with HIV/AIDS.

All of this activity has no doubt led to the ongoing success of Castillo, whose leadership in the art and fundraising worlds has provided him with a network of supporters and admirers -- and a never-ending, surely exhausting schedule.

A young artist, Tristan Hummel, who Castillo is assisting on a mobile public art project aboard CTA-trains ("Art on Track"), credits Castillo with "the right revolutionary spirit." His smart, genial and kind way doesn’t hurt either.

The Aldo Castillo Gallery of International Fine Art, specializing in Latin American Art is located at 675 N. Franklin in the River North district and is currently showing the exhibition "3 + 3 = 6," featuring six Ibero-American artists, now until August 30.

The gallery will be holding its next opening of Louis Fernando Uribe’s work Friday, September 5, 5:30 to 8:30pm. Visit the website at (www.artaldo.com)

The Aldo Castillo Contemporary Gallery is located in the River East Arts Center, 465 E. Illinois St., and always features the work of various international contemporary artists. Visit their website at http://www.aldocastillocontemporary.com

For more information on "Art on Track," visit www.chicagoartontrack.com