Alfonso Castillo Orta

Thursday January 22, 2009, Mexico lost yet another of its most famous and talented artists, Alfonso Castillo Orta, from Izucar de Matamoras, Puebla. His widow, Martha, and children are sad yet relieved "porque dejo de sufrir" (because his suffering is over). Alfonso never recovered consciousness after an emergency operation January 17. With great effort they allowed Martha to take him home on the 22nd, and Alfonso passed away as soon as the ambulance entered his garage. He was finally home and could let go.

There is a magical energy that comes from the folk art created by the Castillo family. For almost 40 years, Alfonso Castillo Orta has worked is magic with clay with an inner strength and self-control that is evident in his work.

Alfonso comes from generations of Puebla potters that began making rustic and utilitarian pieces to satisfy the basic needs of the community. As he matured, he began to experiment with decorative pieces based on his heritage and now produces highly refined, multi-chromatic characters unlike any other artist in Mexico. The perfecting of their current art has demanded many years of experimentation with various processes. They have developed elements that are far more expressive through their skills and mastery of their work.

One of the most meaningful ingredients in the Castillo family's art is the inner presence of the Mexican Printer, José Guadalupe Posada who captured the irony and decadence of the wealthy class in the early 1900s. Also integrated into their work was their ethnicity and inspiration from their lives as farmers and carpenters while at the same time working to hone their skills with their folk art.

It was many years before the family finally transitioned from farming and carpentry that brought a steady income into the home, to selling their art full-time. They built a small workshop in their yard and tourists and collectors began noticing the incredible artistry of the Castillo Arboles de la Vida (Trees of Life), skulls of fire, pots, Catrinas and a legion of characters based on life - angels, demons, warriors, skeletons, musicians, heaven and hell, etc.

Each tourist wants to take home their own "one of a kind" part of Mexico. Today, much of the indigenous art of the world is sent to the Far East to be copied and then is sold at prices much lower than an artist can offer when each piece is made separately with its own "special" character. For those of us who have worked toward bringing art such as the Castillos to Feria Maestros del Arte, it is difficult for us to imagine anyone not wanting a piece of art that is unique and different from any other.

Alfonso and family's art is whimsical, with a playful ingredient that sets it apart from others who would try and copy their technique and style. Tradition is a key to the continuation of folk art and tradition is a very important component in Castillo's art. Again, with the fast-paced world we live in, tradition often falls by the wayside - another reason shows like Feria Maestros del Arte are so important. We offer the artist a place to sell and make their work known while attempting to educate the public as to what they are looking at and why purchasing a one-of-a-kind piece of folk art will enrich your life while at the same time helping to preserve one of Mexico's national treasures - its art.

Alfonso is featured in the book "The Great Masters of Mexican Folk Art" published by Fomento Cultural Banamex. The family has also had a book written about them, "El Arte de la Familia Castillo" that is available when you visit their workshop and home.