Photographer Kelly Parisi Castro has only called Chestertown home for four years, but the impact of her arrival, along with her husband, architect and designer Alex Castro, has been a huge boost to the art community in town. The one time editor and founder of the Arts on the Shore section on the Chestertown Spy, Kelly has been a great champion of the arts since arriving in town. Now, gallery owner Carla Massoni has turned the tables, with new show of Kelly’s own work at MassoniArt, along with the work of Alessandra Manzotti, highlighting to work of these two artists in mid-career.
The Spy caught up with Kelly at Evergrain in Chestertown last weekend.
Any biographic notes you can share with us?
I grew up in Baltimore. As a child I spent a lot of time at my grandparent’s house where I learned the first and only thing an artist ever needs to know: how to play alone. My grandparents adored me, but I was largely without childhood companions. Disneykins and the Bonanza TV show in a box were my go-to play companions. I transformed our entire basement into the Ponderosa. A cow would wonder off and it could take Hoss all afternoon to find it.
The “Catholic Girls” series emerged from 12 years of Catholic school experience. The photographs are about the nature of female relationships: the rules, the positioning, loyalty, survival techniques, uniforms, the said and the unsaid.
Why did you locate to Chestertown?
My husband Alex and I were taking a Sunday drive on the Eastern Shore. Neither of us had ever been to Chestertown. As a boy Alex had hunted in Queenstown with his dad, so he knew the area a bit. We were driving north on 213. When we came to the housing development in Centreville I was ready to turn back, but Alex wanted to keep going. We came to the Chester River. Halfway across the bridge, I felt the pierce of Cupid’s arrow. Looking at the river, and the houses along the river, I just knew this was the place. I grabbed Alex’s arm and said, “we’re moving here!” He thought I was kidding, but three months later we were living on Cross St. We knew not a soul, yet people here welcomed us like long lost family. This same scenario has happened to a number of people.
How has region impacted you and your art?
I adore living on this side of the bridge! I can be outdoors and feel safe: ride my bike, kayak, row, and walk my dog just about anywhere. I love walking with my friends (human and canine) on their farms, wearing Wellies, and the fact that high heels just don’t work here. I love the agricultural seasons, watching the corn grow and seeing fields of winter wheat change color. It’s an easy drive to Assateague or Cape Henlopen where I can photograph the ocean. The natural world has become the central theme in my work. What makes this location perfect for me is that in addition to history and nature, Chestertown is all about the arts. Through her gallery, Carla Massoni particularly is the indefatigable mover of the downtown art scene.
How does it feel “mid season” as an artist?
Mid season is the meaty place to be. It’s not an age but rather a state of mind. Chekhov said if you want to know what a story is really about, chop off the beginning and the end and just read the middle. Mid season is when you’re doing your work. Mid season could last 100 years.
What’s next?
All three aspects of the work I’m showing in Midstream, Catholic Girls, Pool, and Ocean, are series in process, with the strongest pull coming from Ocean. Printing on aluminum presents a number of new possibilities, including working in larger formats. I’m also very excited about teaching at Washington College. It’s an absolute privilege to work with students in our interdisciplinary Creative Process class. They inspire me. Learning, working and sharing is what it’s about now.
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