Dre Castillo
Artist Statement
My paintings, drawings and photography are a collage/collection of my dreams and memories of tribal and ceremonial experiences in the Navajo traditions combined with my contemporary life’s experience.
The main mediums I use in my paintings are acrylic, watercolor and charcoal. I also do customized pencil portrait sketches…It is with these [my} creations that I find my peace, my roots and my courage. I am Ashihii (Salt Clan) born of the To’ahanii ( near the Water Clan) and was born in the Navajo Nation… My grandparents Gilmore and Della Graymountain of Navajo Mountain Arizona raised me.
I could be each character in the paintings. Our elders told of our lineage through oral traditions and timeless ceremonies of our people. I learned of these teachings through my ancestors to become the strong, free thinking woman who lives in two separate realms, Navajo and then Western society.
The memories of my grandparents inspire my drawing, painting and photography. I aspire to reflect their love and guidance in the stories I paint. Every stroke of the brush I make is a prayer of thanks to their gift of my life, visions and my hope of the return to unity.