Art show in Texas features local artist

By Pepita Ridgeway

El Defensor Chieftain

pridgeway@dchieftain.com

   A Magdalena native is currently being featured as February's artist in a Bastrop, Texas art show.

   Jo Castillo (Knoblock), who is a member of the Bastrop Fine Arts Guild -- a group of 40 or so artists in the small eclectic town of Bastrop, approximately 40 miles south of Austin -- primarily uses oil paints, water colors and pastels. The artist has 12 of her works hanging at this exhibition.

   "Each month the guild chooses one artist to feature at the show. This month is my turn," she stated.

   Castillo was raised in Magdalena and is a 1960 honors graduate of Magdalena High. She attended the New Mexico State Fair in 1959 as the Socorro County Fair Queen, following in the footsteps of her elder sister, Barbara who did the same in 1954.

   Castillo's husband, Gene, also grew up in Magdalena. They both attended Magdalena schools in the same grade, "but we didn't date until '65," said Castillo. Gene's mother, Francis, still lives in Magdalena.

   Apart from attending many workshops, Castillo had no formal art training. "I've just been painting forever," she said.

   When her husband joined the justice department, the couple spent 15 years in South America, in Bolivia, Peru and Chile.

   "My art was very much influenced by South America. The wide blue skies and the colors," said Castillo.

   Castillo's aunt, Katherine Field, a popular "western style" pen and ink artist from Albuquerque, was also great influence to Castillo's work.

   Nelson Field was Castillo's grandfather. He was a state land commissioner and is mentioned on the back of the Val Verdi's menus because he attended their inaugural dinner on July 24, 1919, as one of their dignitaries.

   Frank Knoblock, Castillo's uncle, was Sheriff of Socorro County for many years in the 1950s, she said.

   "As an added tidbit," Castillo said, "my sister, Barbara Rawdon, lives in Grants, N. M., and she and husband, Paul, have a small ranch west of Magdalena on the San Augustin Plains.

   "My mother-in-law is Frances M. Castillo, 86 years young, living in Magdalena. She and late husband, Jesus, were from Sand Flats ranch near Aragon, N.M.

   "Both sets of grandparents homesteaded near Magdalena. Frank and Juanita Knoblock at the Little Slash, west of Magdalena; and Nelson and Ida May Field at Tres Hermanos near Alamo. They had a store and post office at Field, which is still shown on maps of New Mexico, north of Alamo. They raised nine daughters at the Field ranch. The girls were the ranch hands.

   "Frances and my mother, Alice, were both Old Timers Queen in Magdalena. I don't have the years, but my Mom was one of the first.

   "My dad, Dutch, was one of the last 'working' cowboys. He always worked for someone and never owned a ranch. His first paying job, when he was about 17 years old, was as a cook on a cattle drive. He worked until 1980 when he died."

   Castillo attended workshops in Lubbock, Texas, Phoenix Ariz,. and big Timber, Mont. where she studied with Jack Hines and Jessica Zemsky. She received additional instruction from Yolanda Aguirre in La Paz, Bolivia.

   She said the only works of hers still remaining in this area are at her mother-in-law's home in Magdalena. She said that some private collectors in Albuquerque hang her paintings as well as collectors from all over the world, including the British State Department.

   Her works also hang in the Bastrop Chamber of Commerce building and in the Texas Capitol. She is also a member of the Austin Pastel Society who displays her works. Works by Castillo can be seen at her Web site at www.jocastilloart.com/.