By Natalie Taylor
David Leonardo Castaneda—who likes to call himself “Azteca,” comes from a family of artists from Mexico City. His mother, who is 93, is still painting! His uncle is a sculptor in whose shop Jorge Marin, one of the most renowned Mexican sculptors today, apprenticed.
David graduated with a degree in International Relations. He always loved art, and in college, while concentrating on his degree, he continued being involved in art. He did his thesis in Nicaragua, and met Arnold Belkin and Vlady, students of David Alfaro Siqueiros and Diego Rivera, respectively. David participated in major mural projects with each of these masters. Later, David and Arnold did a collective mural in Managua, at the Presidential palace. Eventually, David ended up in San Miguel de Allende, where he taught art at the Instituto Allende. In 2005 he settled here permanently, in the Los Frailes neighborhood.
While at the Instituto, David was approached by Josh Klingerman who had a gallery in San Miguel, and was invited to show his works there. Then in a gallery at Fabrica Aurora. In 1997 he did the major mural at the Instituto Allende, which is impossible to miss because it is on the back wall, seen across the large patio as you walk through the doors. It is done on a grand scale, and represents fragments of Mexican history—the indigenous people; the heroes of the war of Independence—Ignacio Allende on a white stallion, with Father Hidalgo at his side. Insurgent troops, the common people, major historical figures from Cortez and Montzuma, to Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata; presidents, philosophers, heroes and villains, all spread across the wall. It truly is a pictorial history of the nation, full of motion and brilliant colors. This major mural, painted in 1997, needs a lot of time to digest, to interpret, and to appreciate.
There are more murals that David has created, which are a permanent part of the city. His murals cover the ceiling and walls of the registration office of the school at Instituto Allende; the Tesoros shop in the Biblioteca—the public library; and on the ceiling and walls of Sala Quetzal, also at the Biblioteca. The themes are different from the grand Mexican history depictions on the walls of the Instituto Allende, but they are just as colorful, and just as overwhelming in scale and brilliance. The mural in Tesoros was done in 2011, and the one in Sala Quetzal in 2001. These are David’s public works throughout San Miguel de Allende, but he also has public murals in Mexico City. There are also many murals in private spaces, for example, one in the elementary school located in Centro, on Diez de Sollano.
David is not only a muralist, he also paints with oils and acrylics on canvas. His works are exhibited at B’nai Or and Pergola galleries inside Instituto Allende, where one can see many of his paintings and some sculptures. The photo above has David sitting in front of one of his large paintings in the gallery. He also has works at the gallery on Jesus 19. Although painting is what David excels at, and his major passion; he has many other interests and gifts. He plays several musical instruments, he composes songs, he also loves to dance, and he is filled with energy and a mind that doesn’t want to take a break. Unabashedly he declares: “I am crazy, but I know I am crazy.”
When speaking of art, David emphasizes that the word’s origin is Latin, meaning “to make.” He believes himself to be a maker of dreams; that art is not elitist, but belongs to all, and encompasses all the senses. And, he says, when it comes to art “you don’t need to learn, you need to remember.”
I asked David what he sees for himself in the future. He said his challenge is huge, he wants to “do a sculptural work on the moon!” I am not sure this comment was totally in jest, he truly expects to do great things. He also believes that human beings have entered a new era. “We are living in galactic times,” he said. A time of space exploration, a time of looking to other worlds, of finding new ways of doing the old. David has the qualities of someone ready to take on the challenges of the future. You can see David’s work in the galleries at the Instituto Allende, 415-566-4718. Natalie Taylor: BA in English Lit and Journalism, Loyola University, Chicago, 1995. MFA in Creative Writing, Vermont College, Montpelier, VT, 1999. Published writer, editor, journalist. Spanish teacher in the US, English teacher in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Translator. www.natalietaylor.org Contact: tangonata@gmail.com
