Sketchbook

CHILD OF THE COSMOS

I've always been called to the stars. That infinite, irresistible search for the insatiable unknown, the mystery of our fading light, has had such a grasp on my imagination and the urge to discover more about this life. I've wondered how much courage it takes for an astronaut to leave everything behind, their family and friends, their comfort zone, their own home and everything they've ever known, in favor of unraveling the puzzles that blanket our skies every night. I've shaped my artistic life to explore the possibilities of where, or how far, my flowering ideas and creative passion can take me. One of my online monikers is the "missing cosmonaut", a reference to the tragic Russian space travelers who were sent out to orbit with faulty equipment in a hurry to beat the U.S. in the space race. But it's also emblematic of that need to leave my cozy nest, that commitment and conviction to venture physically outwards into unknown lands while spiritually diving deeper into myself. ♥

CELEBRATING OUR SENSUALITY IS HEALING

To climb the steps of our sorrows is to conquer the traumas deeply inflicted in our consciousness. If I could help facilitate a sex positive conversation about reclaiming and embracing our identity through art, I think I’d utilize a particular tool my ancestors passed on to me to give back to the community.

Nurture and nourish your spirit with things that make you fall in love with you in order to resonate that warmth around you. The profound connection we feel with the land and its resources is just as essential as the one we feel for each other, how it makes our bodies vibrate and our minds sing when we make love by softly touching each other's souls. That is true magic.

WHAT CONNECTS YOU TO OTHERS?

There’s something special about creating art with others. It’s something that, when all the colors are blending in harmony, can elevate and strengthen the connection I feel with my own soul; to find the comfort to speak on a louder setting so others can hear.

As an introvert, I prefer my solitude. But what happens when other like-minds allow me to open up and let my spirit hold hands with theirs? The creativity that sparks is unfathomable, unpredictable and unlimited. When a bond is in true unison, we become a creative family with the ability to travel farther distances than one individual ever could.

Art is my favorite language to communicate.

Photo by Mayela-Yaoxochitl

WHAT CONNECTS YOU TO YOURSELF?

There is no greater gift than that of storytelling. It’s how we pass on our traditions, our wisdom, our love. That’s why I picked up a pencil and let myself be inspired by the stars, nature and history. My greatest honor would be to call myself a storyteller.

Storytelling, in any shape or form, is what brings me closer to myself in every way that I know. In exploring parables with images or words, I feel my soul dive deeper into who I am and what I want to say. What’s my message? What’s my take on life? Why do I feel the need to say anything at all? Today, I feel my creative outlet is something my ancestors passed on to me, and it’s my duty to honor that.

What’s something you are honored of having?

WHAT CONNECTS YOU TO YOUR ROOTS?

I love excavating romantic connections on sacred grounds like an archaeologist unearthing ancient monoliths, capable of withstanding centuries of burial.

This is how powerful our bonds are. The strength of our ancestor's love for each other and the world that nurtured us is everlasting. It's our duty to withhold what outsiders tried to shun; to let them know our roots will always crack through the concrete.

I feel honored to able to use my hands as a tool to create spiritually healing art for myself, and hopefully for others. You can find a variety of my work for sale on my shop or commission a special request of something you'd like to see. I cherish my interactions with folks to be able to represent our cultures as beautifully as we all are.

The work of artist and filmmaker Polaris Castillo

Polaris Castillo is an artist and filmmaker of documentaries, short films, music videos, documentaries, and commercials. His work has been showcased at the Museum of Indigenous People (Arizona), ¡VIVA EL CINE! Film Festival (Buenos Aires, Argentina), San Diego Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival, San Diego Latino Film Festival, Toronto Queer Film Festival (Canada), Red Nation International Film Festival, Geelong Pride Film Festival (Australia), Root Division (San Francisco), Seattle Erotic Art Show, Tía Chucha's Centro Cultural, Espacio 1839, Stay Gallery, Barrio Fuerza and more.

Polaris Castillo’s work blends the complimentary energies between the soul of the cosmos and the human spirit, taking inspiration from his Mesoamerican ancestry and utilizing illustration and filmmaking to preserve the tradition of storytelling as a modern day tlacuilo, the Nahuatl translation for writer, artist, or scribe of the times. His portfolio highlights Indigenous tales, sexual diversity and uplifts BIPOC communities. He was born in East Los Angeles to immigrant parents from Mexico.