We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Polaris Castillo. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Polaris below.

Polaris, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is me. Taking a chance on myself and working through that risk has made me the most content as an artist. It’s something that feels all the more rewarding the harder it gets. There is nobody to rely on but me. It’s a feeling that can be both fulfilling but terrifying. By making my own art my biggest project, I can find ways to stay afloat in this economy while doing what I love.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Growing up, I’ve always been called to the stars. That search for the unknown, the mystery of our fading light, has such a grasp on my imagination and the urge to discover more about this life. I’ve always wondered how much courage it takes for an astronaut to leave everything behind, their family and friends, their comfort zone, their own home, 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 own 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 the nest, that commitment and conviction to venture physically outwards into unknown lands while diving deeper into myself.

My work blends the complimentary energies between the spirit of the cosmos and the human spirit, taking inspiration from my Mesoamerican ancestry and utilizing illustration and filmmaking to preserve the sacred tradition of storytelling as a modern day tlacuilo, the Nahuatl translation for writer, artist, or scribe of the times. My portfolio highlights Indigenous tales, sexual diversity and uplifts BIPOC communities. I was born in East Los Angeles where my parents migrated to in the 1980’s from Mexico. There’s a duty there to unearth the buried secrets of my lineage, to excavate the awe and wonder that filled the world of the ancient ancestral plane. My greatest honor is to embody the role of a storyteller, a passion passed down from my ancestors.

My 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, Root Division (San Francisco), Seattle Erotic Art Show, Tía Chucha’s Centro Cultural (Sylmar), Espacio 1839 (East Los Angeles), Stay Gallery and more.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

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 abandoned the thought of a regular job and 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.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

When I began diving into my roots and reflecting my journey in my art, I thought I was helping to save the culture. My dad reminded me, or corrected me, that the culture was in fact saving me. I cannot thank my ancestors enough for the inspiration, drive, talent and discipline they have instilled in me. It’s what fuels my daily world, what empowers my soul and what nurtures my spirit. For that, I owe them my life. I listen to them speak to me, gently but firmly, through the wonderful ideas that blossom from my heart, through the people who affect me and the way I have come to impact those around me. I try to listen to what I’m becoming, how I’m blooming. I want to do my guiding stars proud as they shine through me. I must continue their path while forging my own, assuring our lifeline is present now and tomorrow.

Contact Info:

• Website: polariscastillo.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/missingcosmonaut
• Facebook: facebook.com/missingcosmonaut
• Twitter: twitter.com/polariscastillo
• Youtube: youtube.com/polariscastillo
• Patreon: Patreon.com/polariscastillo

Image Credits
Polaris Castillo