Toro Castaño
Intern

When I was 5 years old I told my parents I wanted to grow up to be a horse.

In a nutshell: Grounded, laid back, mellow,sensual, earthy, and resilient. May Taurus. Articulate, non-homonormative, and intelligent. Zen Buddhist (atheist by proxy). I value intelligence, loyalty, personal integrity, pragmatism and friendship. I'm a sweet gentle man with a sleeping intensity that is aroused and channeled via my observation and creative expression.

My mother was Japanese from Okinawa and immigrated to the US at age 19. My father was Chicano/Mexicano from E LA and he was raised at a time when they punished kids for speaking spanish. My paternal grandfather was Portuguese and met my grandmother in Chihuahua Mexico. I was raised in an upper middle class - affluent all white suburb which taught me to view white privilege with some repugnance but I'm working on making peace with that. Sometimes I feel a schism and don't feel I belong anywhere. It's a constant negotiation but I like very much being in touch with my Japanese and Mexican and American sides.

I am a fourth year History of Art and Visual Culture Major. My research has focused on representation of multiraciality in contemporary art. Will begin a year long museum series soon. I have loved art all my life. I see it as a site for resistance against a hyper commodified, zombified, and often simple minded populous. I have a special interest in arts ability to reintegrate the everyday back into life a la Debord and Lefebvre. I plan on attending graduate school to study either museum studies or curation practice somewhere in the Bay Area but the location is sort of flexible.

My driving aesthetic can be characterized as a blend of Japanese Minimalism, Mid Century Modern Scandinavian, nihilism, cynicism, causticity, compassion, hyper criticality (culturally), curiosity, self awareness and actualization, electronic music, and openness (if that's not obvious by now).

My communication style is marked by efficiency but I am very expressive. At times very opinionated and bold and even brash but never intentionally hurtful.