EN: What years were you in school at Gogebic?
Arlene Schneller: I attended Gogebic Community College in 1976-79 but went back for personal enrichment art classes with Paul Castagna as my instructor in Painting I, II and III from 2007 to 2011 for 3 hour painting classes in the evening.
EN: When did you first take an interest in art? How did that come about?
Detail from "Winchester" |
EN: Did you start out as an art major in college or did you veer in that direction after taking painting classes with Paul?
AS: I did not major in art in college. I have an Associates Degree in general business. (I was a real estate broker for 35 years with my own office. Paul joked that when I retired that I'd become his art agent. I retired and now my business background helps because I guess I'm his art agent now.
I experimented with many art techniques, I have a home library full of art books and DVDs that I studied. My mother-in-law was also a great inspiration, as a watercolor artist.
EN: You say that he entrusted his work to you because no one else was interested? How many paintings and sketchbooks are there in total?
AS: Paul deeply loved his paintings, it was hard for him to let them go. He was afraid his work would be a large burden for anyone to take on, he worried that it would become a "geeze" for me, but he knew that if I was given the task that I'd do it well. His two sons at the time were in their early 20's and he felt they wouldn't care or know how to deal with the responsibility and his father was elderly.
Paul and I knew each other for 8 years. We had a great friendship, discussed art history, artists and artwork we loved. He critiqued my work and encouraged me to become more serious about my art and to create a series of work. As his student I had my first solo art show at Gogebic Community College at Art Space, a gallery he created.
I have over 140 acrylic and oil paintings, drawings, sketches, plus printmaking images, a few small sculptures, some music he made, images, processes of his work on multiple external hard drives, video, and at least 10 sketchbooks. I have a vast collection that will take time to process, I am still looking through some of his work. It's a huge responsibility and an honor to accept a lifetime of work. It's like making a puzzle and putting all the pieces back in the right place. His son and his father have additional gouaches and other important drawings and sketches. Paul's father is giving me his paintings to add to my collection. Paul was very creative, talented and committed to his work as an artist, philosophical too.
"Winchester" |
"Winchester" -- detail from left panel. |
My next show for him starts on July 2nd in Ironwood Historic Theatre concourse, attached to the Downtown Art Place Gallery. I'm selecting the next body of work that needs to be framed. Some of the work from the Kruk Gallery show, including "Winchester," will be on display at the Ironwood Memorial Building in mid-July at the annual Range Art Association show.
Details from center panel, "Winchester" |
I see his artwork sales creating a wonderful ripple effect in area arts. What a great way to create a lasting memory. It's been heartwarming to be given this challenge and I know I'm up for it.
Castagna's pieces are for sale at the Kruk. Two sold before the show. All art proceeds will be reinvested into children's art programs and artist initiatives within the Gogebic Range community.
EN: You now have a gallery in Ironwood. What kind of work do you show there? And do you still paint?
Schneller Art Gallery in Bessemer, Mich. |
I've got plenty of ideas for Paul's work in the future. I plan to incorporate some of his artwork into copper resin jewelry, too. Another collaboration of sorts.
After seeing the beautiful "Three Promises Show" I was so inspired. A special thanks goes out to Anne Dugan and her Gallery Practices students from UW-Superior for setting up and preparing the show.
Detail from lower portion of central panel, "Winchester" |
It's taken awhile to get over the loss of such a great friend. I quit painting for several years as a result. Instead I focused on making copper jewelry.
It was just the opposite for Paul's girlfriend Kate Greenough. She's a close friend of mine. She's a very talented artist and has been painting up a storm and is more inspired than ever. She learned a lot from Paul, too. Death affects us all in different ways. He was my instructor, mentor and dear friend -- in that order.
My charity work at the DAP studio I rent above the DAP Gallery keeps me busy during the winters. I teach children, young adults and friends how to make Copper Jewelry. Then we donate our items to area fundraisers and sponsor children's art programs.
Across from the DAP Gallery in Downtown Ironwood, there was a recent fire where 3 people died. We'll be active in helping raise funds for victims and survivors.
Currently I sell my copper jewelry and art at Downtown Art Place Gallery, DAP is a non-profit 11,000 square foot art center (Gallery/Studios/Classroom) which I helped get started 5 years ago, while running my own gallery. I wrote their 501(c)3 and volunteered a great deal of my time. I will be selling Paul's work at the DAP and at 906BOOM and at my gallery this summer.
A deeper dive into the left-hand panel. |
AS: Probably Picasso's most famous work, Guernica, is certainly his most powerful political statement. Castagna's political statement made in the mural-sized "Winchester" features similar frustrations from tragedies of war. I remember Paul being so frustrated with President George Bush's troop surge of 20,000 to Iraq, then angered when Obama sent 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan. Paul nearly cried, he couldn't believe they were sending more troops.
As a result, Obama takes on a sinister look with graying streaks of hair and long fingernails and Bush painted faintly near the bottom as if hiding behind a naked woman.
Castagna's "Winchester" was his anti-war symbol and a reminder of modern day tragedies of war. Castagna started with one center piece which grew into three large panels with references of small parts and pieces from Picasso's painting of Guernica, showing the madness of war repeating itself.
Castagna's symbols echo suffering, images of innocent people, greed, money, and newspaper headlines. I see fires burning, mechanical shapes stacked in piles of destruction, a power switch and one of his trademark angels angered in red. Picasso's influence is everywhere including Obama holding the broken sword, German swastikas and a dismembered foot. But of course, that's my interpretation.
It's an impressive piece that is difficult to translate for an ordinary viewer and reveals more than the eye can see with one look or one visit.
Interpretations of Guernica vary widely and contradict one another, just as Castagna's "Winchester" invokes similar thought. When Paul painted this masterpiece in class at one time the word "Winchester" was painted on it, when asked what it represented he gave no explanation. He preferred his work to be interpreted by the viewer for its detail and intensity.
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RELATED LINKS
Picasso's Guernica Revisited
Gallery Hours for the Kruk at UWS
More images from Castagna's exhibition at the Kruk
2 comments:
What a treasure trove to have Paul's artwork. The volume of work he has done is immense. Nice to know someone cares enough to show his creations and proceeds are going forth to benefit the arts community. Im sure the sketchbooks are amazing to peruse. It would be nice if his work/DVD could be shared with the folks who he worked closely with. His teaching had a profound affect as he truly was a larger than life Being. Sadly, Paul left us too soon. I practiced doing art with him years ago back in Roosevelt, MN.and enjoyed seeing his works here in the article. Thanks, Terri Stokes-terriannstokes@gmail.com
If I remember correctly Terri is an incredible artist herself, one whose art Paul appreciated. I can't tell you how happy I am to see that Paul left his work in the hands of one who can take it into the world in a gentle way. I have a few small pieces of his work...mostly art doodles on envelopes...they are amazing actually and I might just frame many of them! It is hard to think of Paul gone...he was a very important figure in many of our lives. I am God Mother to one of his sons whom I haven't seen since he was a child. All the best with your gallery...Perhaps I and my husband will be able to drive by and see it some day if we take a very long drive. ndarlenetataryn@mts.net
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